382 BULLETIN OF THE BUSSEY INSTITUTION. 
No. 34.— Facts gathered by observation and experience relating 
to the White Pine (Pinus Strobus L). By Epmunp Hersey, 
Instructor in Agriculture at the Bussey Institution, and Super- 
intendent of the Bussey Farm. 
Part III. AN ANSWER TO CRITICISMS OF Part II. 
In an article published in the journal entitled ‘‘ Forest and 
Garden” for May 20, 1896, Mr. B. E. Fernow of the United 
States Department of Agriculture, has seen fit to doubt the 
accuracy of certain facts as stated by me in Part II. of this 
series of papers. Since I have abundant evidence wherewith to 
prove that Mr. Fernow’s criticisms are incorrect and unfounded, 
I feel called upon to issue this Supplementary Part III. for the 
benefit of those who are seeking facts relating to the White 
Pine as grown in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, in order to 
prevent them from being led into error by false theories. 
Mr. Fernow says, — 
‘One of the elements that need to be known in order to discuss 
the profitableness of forestry is the amount of useful wood which can 
be produced per acre. On this point the most erroneous and extrava- 
gant notions exist, and many calculations are made on paper which 
can never be realized. ‘The rate of growth of a tree at a given age 
is supposed to continue indefinitely, and this rate is applied to an 
acre of trees . . . and thus we can compute astonishing yields for the 
future.” 
To this statement I fully agree; and I would add, as a practical 
manufacturer of lumber, that I am disgusted with those who, 
without any real knowledge, such as is learned in the saw-mill, 
measure a few trees, or employ agents to do so, and rush into 
print with an array of figures which have about as much effect in 
changing what are known to be positive facts as a feather would 
haye in removing a mountain of iron, by being blown against 
it by a gentle summer breeze. 
When Mr. Fernow pronounces my paper to be the ‘* latest con- 
tribution to rosy prospects,” he places himself in the unfortunate 
position of trying to discredit statements of established facts. 
