4 PREFACE. 
ward to include Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri and Kansas. The 
vast treeless plains of the West, offer an almost limitless field 
for forest planting, and the States of Kansas and Nebraska are 
already taking the lead in the enterprise. 
All, or nearly all the trees native within the limits assigned to 
this work are noticed, together with a considerable number of 
foreign origin, 
The author acknowledges his indebtedness to the works of 
G. P. Marsh, Gray, Loudon, Michaux, Meehan, Hoopes, and 
others, for much valuable information. The botanical descrip- 
tions have been mostly taken, with slight change, from the 
works of Gray and Loudon. Acknowledgments are also due for 
assistance in various ways from personal friends of the author. 
While it has been thought best to adopt a scientific arrange- 
ment and description of the trees noticed, no pains have been 
spared to render the practical part as plain and thorough as 
possible. Although the leading object of the work is to describe 
and recommend the culture of valuable timber trees, their orna- 
mental character has not been neglected, and many are noticed 
of little worth for any but ornamental purposes. 
The author has long regarded the reproduction of the more 
valuable forest trees, by means of artificial plantations, as a 
matter of great national importance. Should this work in any 
degree aid in so desirable an object, he will feel that the labor 
bestowed upon it has not been thrown away. 
