84 



When the clestnut is out down sprouts will almost invariablo spting up 

 from the old stump and grow with surprizing rapidity, so that a forest once 

 planted is one for all time, if the trees are cut in the winter. If these sprouts 

 are thinned out when small, so as not to crowd, they will grow from eight to 

 twelve inches in diameter, and twenty-five to forty feet high in ten years. 



As an ornamental tree in the open common, the chestnut is one of the best 

 of trees, sometimes presenting a broad oval, and at others a, cone shaped 

 head. Scarcely any two trees bear nuts exactly alike, thus a great variety 

 may be produced and aeleeted from for profitable multiplication. The great 

 object for Wisconsin Would be large early nuts, and fast growing trees. The 

 iative rather than foreign trees should be selected. So too for planting, nuts 

 from the high hilly portions of New York and Massachusetts would be prefer- 

 able to seeds from Pensylvalnia and Ohio, as they would be more likely to pro-' 

 duce hardy trees. It must not be forgotten, that the chestnuts grow from the' 

 mountains of S'ermont to the foot hills in Georgia, and have acclimated them- 

 selves to each latitude, in which they are found. 



He seeds should be kept thfough the winter by placing them in wide? 

 drills or other smooth clean ground, as soon as possible after they are 

 gathered, and fill the interstices With loose' friable soil or sand, the^ covering: 

 them two of three inches deep With leaves, and small sticks placed on them 

 sufficient to hold the leaves during winter. In early spring they may 6e taken 

 up before they sptout, and be buried an inch and a! half deep in light dry 

 sandy soil, in the nvrrsefry or Where they Sre to remain ; or they may be 

 planted at the first where they are to gfow, by coveting them with rotten 

 manure, muck or leaf-motild, but very shallow, they may be budded or grafted 

 at any age. If they are grown in the nursery they must be' transplant-ed the' 

 first year, to shorten the tap-root. 



FAGUS FEKRTJGINEA, {Bedand W'hiie Beeck.) 

 The beech-belongs to the family of Cupuliferae, of which the oak and chest- 

 nut are prominent examples. It is a common tree in most of the northern 

 states, grows to a large size, often 70 feet and more, and two or three feet 

 in diameter. It is found abundant along the shore counties of Lake Michi- 

 gan, from Racine northward. The largest trees are found in deep, rich 

 loamy soil; but is common in stony land, with or without a strong admix- 

 ture of clay. The roots spread very widely and keep near the surface, often 

 exposed. It is atall, straight tree, and will thrive atthe rate of 1280 to the 

 acre, and wherever it will grow would make an excellent windbreak, when 

 grown in belts. The timber, if not classed with tough woods, is extremely 

 hard, and is used for a variety of purposes where a fine hard surface is re- 

 quired. Mechanics tools, such as planes, saw handles, &o , are almost ex- 

 clusively made of beech. It makes fuel excelling ma;,le when dry ; and is 

 used for building timber in many sections where it grows, being often hewn, 

 forty feet in length. It is very durable timber when kept dry. 



