86 FARM FORESTRY 



feet the first year, and in 20 to 25 years they are large enough 

 for poles and ties. After 30 years the rapid growth ceases. 

 In the end the trees from seed will reach a much larger size. 

 The rate of growth will vary with the nature of the soil. The 

 wood is light, fairly soft and rather coarse grained. It splits 

 and works easily, checks and shrinks considerably in drying, 

 and is very durable in contact with the ground. It is used 

 in cabinet work, cooperage, interior finish fence posts, tele- 

 graph and telephone poles and crossties. It is one of the 

 most useful of woods in its natural region of growth. It is 

 propagated by seeds and by sprouts from the stump. There 

 is probably no tree that sprouts better. It is easily managed 

 by the coppice system. The nuts should be gathered in the fall 

 and stratified in moist sand over winter, and planted in the 

 nursery a foot apart in rows that are 3 feet apart and covered 

 I to 2 inches deep. In one season the seedlings will be a 

 foot or more high and can be transplanted when one or two 

 years old. It is better to start the trees where the trees are 

 to be grown. The chestnut would be one of the best trees 

 to plant for lumber and fence posts if it were not for the 

 chestnut bark disease, which has killed the trees over a wide 

 area in the eastern portion of its range. Until the extent of 

 this disease is known and its spread ceases it cannot be advised. 

 It should be planted with caution. 



Green Ash (Fraxinus lanceolata). — The green ash is dis- 

 tributed over the greater part of the United States east of the 

 Rocky Mountains, occurring singly or in small groups in the 

 forest. It is a medium-sized tree. A height of 80 feet and 

 a diameter of 24 inches is rarely exceeded. It grows best on 

 low, moist soil, but will grow under a wide variety of soil 

 and moisture conditions. It has the ability to thrive under 

 adverse conditions. It is one of the best trees for plantino- 

 on the arid plains of the Middle West. It is not a rapid grower, 

 but under average conditions will grow to fence post size in 

 15 to 20 years. It grows slowly in arid or semi-arid regions. 



