128 STATE OF MICHIGAN. 



roots, stick the cuttings, and with dibbles made from the branches of 

 a nearby cherry tree to plant, in a most primitive manner, the seed- 

 ling trees. A neighboring farmer had missed finding us at White Cloud, 

 but seeing us at work on the blow on his way home drove out with others 

 and kindly assisted in finishing to plant the treesi without tools save 

 with the br'anclies from the trees. Mr. Dunworthy reported June sixth, 

 one month after planting — that all were alive and doing well. If these 

 can grow under these conditions there is every reason to believe that 

 with proper care more of these and others will do as well or better. 



The reclamation of this area is by no means an impossibility. In 

 fact, it can be much more readily accomplished than many other areas 

 of like size in the State. The natural presence of the white pine is 

 evidence enough that the best timber tree in the State will grow if 

 given some protection until it gets started. Lands along the ocean and 

 lake beaches much less promising have been reclaimed. It would not 

 probably be necessary to resort to sand binding grasses as is often 

 the case in other places. Almost any material that the wind can not 

 carry will do good service until the trees get started. A beginning 

 should be made on the windward side and progi'ess made as fast as 

 possible toward the leeward. A nursery should be started right in one 

 side of the blow so that the trees will not have to be transported far 

 when large enough to plant out. 



Of the species to be grown white pine should receive most attention. 

 In mixture red cedar, Norway pipe, and Norway spruce would be worth 

 tTial. Among the deciduous trees oak, cherry, locust, and chestnut 

 would probably succeed and all would in time produce valuable timber. 

 Within half a mile of the blow in soil very similar to that of the blow 

 itself is a chestnut tree, the sole survivor of ten that were planted by 

 a farmer some years ago. Growing in the open it takes on the form of 

 an apple tree and now has a trunk about five inches thick. If ten per 

 cent of trees planted by the inexperienced in handling this tree grew, at 

 least fifty per cent ought to grow if the trees are grown on the ground 

 from the nuts and properly handled. Oak and cherry seed should be 

 planted where the trees are expected to stand, but the locust transplants 

 very readily and could be gtown in gi'eat abundance without much 

 trouble. 



The land at present is entirely worthless and even less than worthless 

 because it is imposing upon tillable region more and more every year. It 

 has been returned to the State for taxes and can not be sold again in 

 its present condition for any of the purposes of agriculture. If it can 

 be withdrawn from sale for a certain period and restocked with timber 

 it will in time yield a handsome profit if properly managed. The expense 

 will be considerable in the start but the compensation will warrant it. 

 The soil was first stripped of its cover and then robbed of its fertility. 

 If now a reasonable amount of the plunder is intelligently returned 

 and applied to the soil it will show its appreciation in a better crop of 

 better timber than nature produced unassisted. 



