BLACK WALNUT I ITS GROWTH AND MANAGEMENT. 31 
approximately the diameter of the first 12-foot log inside the bark at 
the small end and the clear length Trill indicate whether the tree is a 
field or a forest grown walnut and will show to a certain degree how 
many logs may be expected. The size of the upper logs may then 
be estimated on the basis of the butt log. This method is simple 
and well adapted for the use of the walnut owner who wants to know 
approximately how much walnut he has. 
WALNUT PLANTATIONS. 
Walnut has always been a popular tree for planting on account of 
its attractiye appearance, the value of its wood, the production of 
nuts, and the ease with which it may be propagated. Walnut has 
consequently been planted in every State in the country as single 
shade trees, as windbreaks, as open, orchardlike stands planted for 
nuts, or as closely planted stands for log timber. The last are found 
chiefly in the prairie regions from Ohio westward. There are 126 
stands on record in Iowa alone, which is probably the leading State 
in this respect. Most of the plantations of this kind were estab- 
lished in the period of the great popularity of the wood, from the 
close of the Civil War to 1890, although at least one, in Missouri, 
dated back to 1836, and another, in Illinois, is said to have been 
planted in 1823. These plantations have improved the general ap- 
pearance of the farms and have served excellently as shady groves 
for cattle. 
FACTORS AFFECTING THE SUCCESS OF PLANTATIONS. 
Many owners take special pride in their walnut plantations and 
maintain that these add to the market value of the farm. In most 
cases this is undoubtedly true, and the reasons are those mentioned 
above; but, because of lack of management, unfortunately many 
walnut plantations have not been successful as producers of valuable 
wood. The following table shows the average breast-high diameter 
growth in plantations, in comparison with the average for the natu- 
ral stands of block walnut measured (Table 13), and with the 
slowest growth observed in a natural stand (see description of forest- 
grown stand in Fayette County, Ohio, on p. 23). The figures for 
growth in plantations are based upon measurements of 90 planta- 
tions. 
This comparison of artificial with natural stands is not very favor- 
able to the artificial. After the planted trees reach 50 years of age 
the growth is slower than that of the slowest observed in natural 
stands. Furthermore, the mediocre quality of the planted but un- - 
managed trees was in marked contrast to the clean, straight, very 
tall boles of the forest-grown trees. Two reasons may be assigned 
