FOREST TREES. 171 
half of September is considered by many the best 
time. This may do very well when the weather is 
not too dry, but would not be safe in the protracted 
droughts which frequently occur at that season in 
the Mississippi valley. Later fall planting is risky 
in any state of the weather. In the West, spring is 
generally regarded as the best time. My own opinion 
is, that is should be done as early as practicable; others 
favor later planting. It certainly is not safe to defer 
it until the trees begin to grow. Late planted trees 
often suffer from the occurrence of hot, dry weather, 
before they are ready to commence growing. 
Young trees, from twelve to eighteen inches high, 
are quite large enough for use in forming plantations 
for timber. The plants should be strong and vigorous 
—not slender in consequence of being grown too 
thickly. They should be carefully planted, and the 
earth pressed firmly down upon the roots. They 
should then receive good cultivation until it is no 
longer necessary. 
As has been previously remarked, Coniferous trees, 
with a few exceptions, are not very valuable until they 
have grown to a considerable size. They are manu- 
factured into boards, planks, scantling, and square 
timber. To make the best lumber, tall, straight trees, 
of nearly uniform diameter, and free from knots, are 
necessary. To produce such, they must be thickly 
grown when young. Trees grown in open situations 
expend great part of their vigor in the production of 
side branches; the trunk tapers rapidly from the base, 
and the wood abounds in knots. When they are 
