FORESTRY. 149 



or eight years planted, is not to be considered of great value. Speak- 

 ing as a nurseryman, Ave think that the demand for forest trees is 

 largely dependent on the timber culture law, and should the present 

 law be repealed, we would warn our brother nurserymen that it is 

 not advisable to grow large stocks of forest trees, because the timber 

 claim planting forms four-fifths of all the forest tree trade, and when- 

 ever that law is repealed, we may expect a very small demand for 

 forest tree seedlings, as the average homesteader is usually too poor 

 to purchase for the improvement of his homestead, and others put it 

 off from time to time for a more convenient season, although all will 

 agree that the improvement of trees greatly enhances the value of 

 property. 



DISCUSSION. 



Camp — I am very much opposed to black locust, the borers work 

 in it so much that it is almost impossible to raise a tree to any size. 

 I think the American sweet chestnut is a valuable tree and it does 

 well here, too. 



Smith — I think black locust will do better in the northwest than 

 here ; it is a very valuable tree if the borers do not attack it. 



Camp — My trees are literally ruined — just cut to pieces, you might 

 say. 



Carpenter — Near Brownville, Neb., there are black locust trees 

 two feet in diameter, and they are perfectly healthy. I think, owing 

 to our high altitude, the borers are not so destructive as in Illinois or 

 some of the eastern states. In Denver, and in Utah, I have seen 

 fine trees, eighteen inches in diameter. 



Smith — I would like to ask if any one has had experience in plant- 

 ing trees on timber claims, in the fall? 



Brown — Five or six years ago I planted a claim in the fall, for a 

 friend, whose time has nearly expired, and he was obliged to plant 

 them, or lose his claim; fully three-fourths of the trees^ grew, and 

 made a fine, thrifty growth. 



Smith — I have tried fall planting, and succeeded so well, I would 

 rather risk it than spring planting. I plant deep in the fall, and 

 then cultivate well the next spring. 



Carpenter — We should plant a mixture, instead of whole plan- 

 tations, of any one tree. Without doubt the ash is our best forest 



