PREFACE. 



The state of Ohio, when first visited by white men, was covered 

 with a rich and varied growth of the most valuable of the forest trees 

 native to this region. Magnificent specimens of white oak, black walnut, 

 tulip and chestnut, as well as a large number of other trees, whose wood 

 is of less value, were abundant. 



The early pioneers cleared away the forests to secure land for agri- 

 cultural purposes, and the rapid growth in population caused an increased 

 demand for wood and its various products, which resulted in a further 

 reduction of the forest area. This clearing process has been continued, 

 until to-day less than 23%. of the state is wooded. A very large pro- 

 portion of this area consists of farm woodlots, from which nearly all of 

 the merchantable timber has been removed, and natural reproduction is 

 being prevented by pasturing- with live stock. 



For many purposes other materials may be substituted for wood, 

 and this is well illustrated in the use of steel and masonry for the con- 

 struction of bridges and buildings, but in some cases no satisfactory sub- 

 stitutes for wood are known. 



Many farmers are replacing the old rail. fences with those constructed 

 of wire, but they have been unable to find anything with which to suc- 

 cessfully replace wooden fence posts. Iron, steel and concrete, alone, and 

 in various combinations, have been tried for this purpose. All of them 

 lack one or more of the essential qualities of an ideal fence posts, i. e., 

 durability, portability and comparative cheapness. The latter item covers 

 not only the first cost but the ultimate cost as measured by the life of the 

 post, and constitutes one of the strongest objections to most of these 

 substitutes. 



Ohio's natural supply of wood suitable for fence posts is at present 

 far below the demand, and many farmers, realizing this condition, are 

 beginning to plant trees to supply local demands. Of those varieties of 

 trees suitable for posts and which may be grown in this state, the black 

 locust and hardy catalpa are receiving the most attention. In order to 

 grow these trees successfully in artificial plantations, the farmer should 

 be able to recognize their most serious insect enemies, and should be 

 sufficiently familiar with their character and habits to combat them intel- 

 ■linegtly. 



Railroad managers are experiencing difficulties in finding a perfect 

 substitute for wooden cross-ties. Steel and concrete have been tried for 

 this purpose also, but both are lacking in that elasticity wbich, with a 

 certain degree of firmness, makes the wooden tie so valuable. Until 



