The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-06-03

In q paper read by Avery P. Slade
at the meeting of the Massachusetts,
Historical Society held on June 17th
he stated q number of instances Of
the suecessful planting of pine trees
for timb9 on the thin soils Of New
England, where the RETURN, although
not extravagant, were fairly satisfac-
tory. In one experiment, twenty
five acres of worn-out land in Ply
mouth county, Mass, was bought
for twenty-five dollars an acre, and
set with white pines at the expense
of about 500. The young trees,
from six to eighteen inches high,
were set in rows ten feet apart each
way; and a year ago, after twenty
years growth, they measured from
twelve 10 sixteen inches in diameter,
and the plantation is valued at ST.
200. based on the assessment. The
cost Of the land and all the work on
it. at compound interest at five per
cent. has amounted to over 81, 400.
Had the owner planted with sole
view to profit, he would have set
the trees six feet BY ten, giving
nearly twice as many, and they
would have been less branching and
more valuable for timber, and been
worth at least $1,000. At ten feet
each way, some of the branches
were fifteen feet long, interiocking
and rendering places impenetrable.
Another plantation was made in an
adjoining county, on land valued at
only ten dollars an acre, at cost of
five dollars an acre for planting and
after twenty-five years the standing
wood was sold for $40 an acre, af- |
fording a large profit. The rows
were six and nine feet part. and |
the trees were from four to six feet
in the rows, the nearest being part
lv intended as awind break. An ex-
pertinent was made by setting pine
tress on land too poor TO cultivate,
which are now thirtv-one years old
and are estimated worth $50 an
acre. From a careful estimate it
was found that the weight in growth |
during the last ten years was equal
to that of the first twenty; but
another account of a plantation in
another place, states that the trees
had nearly ceased growing at twen-
ty-fve years. Hence the importance /
Of careful observation on different !
soils and conditions of growth, to |
knew when TO cut.
The importance was stated OF
carefully asserting the young trees
before planting, placing those of |
equal size by themselves, to prevent !
the smaller ones from being shaded |
and crowded under by the larger,
and uneven rows formed. The cul-
tivator is to be passed between the
rows twice year or oftener, until
the trees are fairly under way in
growth. Early pruning would re-
move profitless side branches. and
make handsome trees. The white
pine was particularly recommended
because best adapted TO the thin and
poor soils of the State, and next to
this the white birch succeeds best.
1t was therefore advised, by way of
experiment, TO sow birch seeds
broadcast between the rows of pine
when the latter are four or FIVE years
old. The birch would over take the
pines. check the growth of branches
and render side-pruning unnecessary
At twelve years they would yield
many cords an acre.
From experiments which we
would have made with single trees
during the last twenty five years,
the growth of different evergreens
accords very nearly with the meas
urement given in this article
From the Country Gentleman.