50 EVERGREENS. , 



afford very valuable lumber. They live about twice as long as 

 the Jack Pines and ultimately push beyond them, attaining both 

 size and symmetry. 



The sand hills, having a much higher elevation than the 

 eastern and middle portions of the state, may prove more con- 

 genial to many kinds of trees which cannot endure the intens- 

 er heat of the plains further south and at a much lower eleva- 

 tion. There the Ponderosa will succeed the best of any. A 

 pound of Red Pine contains about 40,000 seeds of which about 

 SO per cent will germinate. The seeds are difficult to gather but 

 where a nursery is placed in a congenial locality a few pounds 

 of seed will produce a large amount of trees. 



Plnus Rigida or Pitch Pine. This tree has three needles in 

 a sheath, three to six inches long. The bark is thick and rough. 

 The tree grows from 30 to 80 feet tall. The wood is hard and 

 full of pitch — good for fuel and charcoal. Its native belt reaches 

 from New Brunswick down to Northern Georgia. It would pro- 

 bably be of no value for "Western planting. 



White Pine — Weymouth Pine. The leaves are five In a 

 sheath. They are very soft and delicate and fill the air with a 

 delightful aroma. This has been the leading Conifer of Ameri- 

 ca. It grows from 80 to 150 feet. The wood is straight grain- 

 ed and soft. It is easily worked, and though so soft It is much more 

 durable than many of the pitch-laden varieties. "Where this 

 can be raised it should have the preference. Standing by itself 

 It is one of the most graceful of all. It builds itself up in mar- 

 velous symmeti-y and Is one of the finest for ornamentation. 



I note that in reforesting the mountains of New Hampshire 

 the collectors find beds of thrifty seedlings and transplant them. 

 In the humid climate of the East these trees are often found 

 growing in the open. They will push on and take possession 

 of wornout pastures and deserted farms and soon clothe deso- 

 lation with beauty. In planting in those localities where they 

 will succeed in the West, great care must be taken to secure 

 seeds from the extreme Western belt. I am certain that many 

 failures have resulted from' using seed from Eastern localities. 

 I did not know this when I made my plantation under the lOOth 

 meridian in Nebraska, and lost every one of them. I am con- 

 fident that the Wisconsin and Minnesota belt can be pushfd 

 quite a distance South and West with safety. 



The Hemlock — Tsuga Canadensis. This Is one of our most 

 charming evergreens. When given a chance It forms a pyramid- 

 al and shapely tree. Its lower branches seem more persistent than 

 those of most other Conifers. So you will see these of larger size and 

 finer symmetry than any of their neighbors. The foliage is very 

 sort and even in states where it grows naturally it cannot be 

 grown .'successfully in Southern exposures. It has often been tried 

 in the West but in almost every instance it is a failure. There 

 are cases, however, where it is defended from the sun and hot 

 winds, when it does fairly well in Nebraska. Thurlow does not 



