The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-02-29
evening State Sunrmat,
THURSDAY EVENING, FEB. 30, 1879.
NEW YORK STATE AGRICULTURAL So
CTETY.
TIMBER GROWING.

progress, but now we need more than we
have; 100000 acres are destroyed every
year, against only 100000 started, and
only small part of the wood is turned to
good account. Timber is getting very
scarce in many localities and the climate
is also affected-the amount of annual rain
fall perhaps remaining constant, but its
distribution and evaporation changing. On
the arid plains around Nineveh there is rain
enough, but it is quickly dried up by the
wind, for lack of woodlands. Sudden
floods too are more violently destructive in
open countries, vegetable mould and leaves
being wanting, to hold the streams in
check. A man might be appointed to
take charge of the forests of the State
and to give instruction in arboricul-
ture, as is done in Europe. Decidu-
Gus trees yield more profit than ever
green's, the latter requiring too much aid.
The Silver Maple is a rapid grower; its
seeds ripen in June, when they should be
sown in rows, and the seedlings will be
two or three feet high in three months
transplant next year and thin out annual
ly; he has seen four-year-old trees four
inches through at the base and fifteen feet
high; 10 or 20 years are required to get
large lumber; it does not stand the wealth
er, and must be used only for the inside
work of houses; it grows both in dry and
moist soil. Red Maple is very valuable;
it ripens its seed at the same time as the
Silver, but grows more slowly and needs
rich, moist soil. The Sugar or Rock Ma
pie ripens its seed i'll fall; they should be
mixed in moist sand till spring then sown
in rows, and transplanted at one
or two years, TO hasten growth.
A tree if transplanted grows as much
in 10 years as it would otherwise do in 20.
The rock maple grows slowly for 6 years
then faster it needs room, and %
years. time, for cordwood or sugar. Of
Hickory there are many species, and care
ful selection Is needed they grow slowly,
giving timber for making farm implements
in Is or 20 years the first cutting for
hoop-poles) may be done the last of Feb.
ruary, when the stumps will throw up
sprouts and these grow so fast that the
check is hardly noticed. Of the Ash, the
most valuable species are the White and
the Blue, for rather dry soil, and the
Green and Black for damp situations !;
the seed ripens in fall. These
trees grow faster than hickory. Of
she Films, the White is best. They are
useful for hoop-poles when young, and for
all purposes requiring tough timber, such
as spokes, at 10 or 20 years !; the seed
ripens in spring and keeps well the Weep
ing Elm is valuable where the soil is not
too dry. The Black Walnut is valuable,
but slow-30 to so years in growing. A
few scattered specimens, however, enhance
the value of other timber. The Chestnut
is ready for fence-posts and rails in from 10
to 20 years, and for railroad ties in 20 to
H., IL, l. L., L
tween layers of sand as it comes from the
bed, nailed up in box, and buried trans
plant at one or two years, cutting off tap
root. The European Larch will be as val
liable here as in Great Britain, where
thousands of acres are devoted to it; it
makes railroad ties in 20 years the seed
lings at first need care and shade-and this
is true of all evergreens. Trimming should
never be neglected with any sort of trees,
any more than cultivation.
Mr.. Geddes had noticed that large masses
of yellow locust trees are not troubled by
borers except on the borders.
Gen. Patrick had learned from Gov.
Holbrook, of Vermont that borers only
operate in sunshine, and that few ever
greens will protect the locusts.
Mr.. Gould thought that New Hampshire
had rather gained by her decrease in popu-
lation and in arabic land and her increase
in forests, the people there learning what
trees to encourage and how to adapt them
to circumstances.
In reply to question, Mr.. Fuller said
shat the position of the heart of tree is
always influenced by the points of the
compass, the wood growing fastest On the
south SIDE, in the open field. A vote of
fhnpkc IN tho 1aot1rnY lpac pacced
MIR. GREGORY ON SHEEP AND CLOVER.
He spoke very favorably of clover,
not only as being a profitable crop when
grown for hay and seed, but also as being
a great benefit to the land. He likes to
pillow under clover for wheat, and also to
have good clover sod in the spring to
pillow under for corn, potatoes and beans.
He also spoke very favorably of frequent
seeding, and of variety of crops, saying
that fields where this course was prac-
ticed did better, and improved in fertility
faster than his permanent pastures. The
latter are mainly kept for convenience,
having good running water at all times for
stock, and being so situated as to conve-
niently water stock from quite number of
other fields.
Ssecp.-Mr. Gregory finds sheep the
most profitable stock he has ever kept.
He has good grade fine wool sheep, that
average six pounds or more of good washed
wool; keeps from $50 to 200 old sheep,
and raises from 80 to 100 lambs a year.
His surplus sheep are fed for mutton !; has
never sold sheep any other way, except
some for good prices to take west, during
the greet sheep excitement. Those fatted
generally average about ll5 pounds, and
sell at home for 6 to Sc. pound live
weight feeds clover hay and corn, but
only feeds bushel of corn day for 60
sheep. This is divided so as to feed corn
twice day, but feeds clover hay five times
day, a little at time, removing all that
is left each time. This hay is of the best
quality, cut early and well cured, and re-
tanning all the leaves, heads, and fine aroma
of the clover. His neighbors wonder how
he makes his sheep do SO well on so little
grain. In this way he can make a pound
of mutton as easy as o pound Of beef or
pork, and have the wool besides; thinks
he prefers to make the mutton, as it is less
trouble to take care of the sheep.
He can also winter store sheep with less
care and attention than other stock. There
are no stables to clean out, and the sheep
in pens and yards imflict less injury on each
other than cattle. Feeds store sheep twice
day gives them all the bean straw they