64 STATE OF MICHIGAN. 



the farmer dislikes to see grass go to waste, and turns in liis sheep and 

 (■attle. A woodloi: so managed will disappear in ten to twentj- years. 

 The tall forest trees in snch small lots must all come out sooner or later, 

 giving place to young growth. 



What is to be done with that twenty acres which is reserved as a wood- 

 lot? Keep out all grazing animals, encourage young trees to come in 

 thickly. If necessary, plant seeds or young trees about the thin places 

 of the margin. Do not be worried if the young trees crowd each other; 

 this is necessary to make the stems run up tall.. Low beeches, blue 

 beeches, bas.swoods, box elders, or shrubbery are desirable to shade the 

 ground, hold dead leaves in place, and keep out the sun, but they should 

 not be perinitted to extend their tops as high as the tops of trees that 

 are to be allowed to remain. A tall beech is not a tree that any farmer 

 should care to grow. The timber is not very valuable, the tree grows too 

 slowly, and the dense shade of the leaves smothers other trees. 



Tbe minute a farmer begins to study and to practice on his patch of 

 forest trees, that moment he begins to observe what others are doing, and 

 he becomes interested in the cut-over land that belongs to the State, and 

 can be depended upon to do his part in securing proper legislation, in- 

 cluding appropriations, to help carry out the improvements. Henceforth, 

 Low many owners of land here present dare commit themselves oii this 

 question of making a diligent effort to obtain a woodlot that sihall be a 

 perpetual satisfaction to its owner and a model for the whole neighbor- 

 hood? Please think of your woodlot, and do the best you can to improve 

 it. 



The second part of my short talk is to encourage these persons to plant 

 half an acre or an acre or two to trees. Plant on hills and ravines, or 

 adjoining the woodlot, or on good, arable land, remembering that the better 

 the land, the better will be the crop of trees. Imagine some one is think- 

 ing of this topic right here now. I will tell you what he thinks : '-Seri- 

 ously, grow trees in Michigan, which has long been the paradise of lum- 

 bermen? I never heard of such a thing! You won't live long enough 

 to grow good sawlogs for lumber. What is the use? It tfikes a big oak 

 or Tuli]) tree hundreds of years to grow. No, I will cut oft' all my timber 

 and raise potatoes and wheat, corn and clover.'' 



Talk as you please, only plant trees, or let them grow where Nature 

 sows the seed. You are not expected to sit down and wait, as you would 

 for an incoming train of cars, but keep busy with other things. In the 

 meantime, the young trees will add year after year to their age and size. 

 If the land can be cultivated, plant such trees as you decide upon, eight 

 feet apart, .and cultivate as for corn for three to five years. 



Uiiless the trees planted are white pines, or some other evergreens, place 

 between the rows box elders to shade the ground, help hold dead leaves, 

 keep out grass, and crowd the young trees planted for timber. If box 

 elders grow too fast, overtopping the good sorts, hack them off once or 

 more. Vou won't select to grow blue ash, rock elm, hemlock, white cedar, 

 and many other kinds, because they grow too slowly. Think over what 

 valuable kinds formerly grew well on such land, and see that the trees 

 are adapted to the soil you have. No black walnuts or basswoods or white 

 ashes on sandy knolls; no chestnuts, whitewoods or hickories on river 

 bottoms, you would like quick returns for labor in this matter of grow- 

 ing ti'ees. Then you will like quick growing kinds of timber that may be 



