Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-11-05
REGROWTH OF PINE.
A Subject Of Peculiar Interest and
Value in Northern Wis
COnSin.


consin.
So much of the soil of New England is
adapted to the production of white pine
that any light on that subject is of pecul-
lar interest and value. Where fire has
been kept out, and judicious selection
of thrifty old pines has been left on
the windward side Of the lots which
have been cut over, to answer as nurse
trees, and to scatter cones and seeds
over the ground, it has usually been the
case that satisfactory crops have sue
ceeded one another. In fact, IN South
ern New Hampshire crop of pine trees
of sufficient size to saw into box and
stave lumber is the result of about thir-
ty-five years growth, and the crop is
looked upon about as certain as any
farm crop.
This subject is receiving a good deal
of attention in Minnesota, and the prac-
teal and efficient chief fire warden, G. G.
Andrews, has addressed the forest COM
mission of that state in his report OF
this year on the subject of the regroWth
of pine. Mr.. Andrews remarks that
it is peculiar that the pine, which re-
quires upward of a century for best de-
velopment, is as young plant more
sensitive to the frost, the sun and the
drought than are young wheat anG 0at
blades, that mature in few months:
L lie pine Seeu ueeuS W UG Ill Tic SIOuAu
three to four weeks before it comes up.
Like the beech, when it first comes out
of the ground, the tender plant brings
up with it the seed and husk, OF which
the birds are very fond. Seed of the
large-leaved trees, and especially OF the
poplar, sown naturally, obtain footing
and growth much more rapidly, and tend
to smother the pine. However, 1t is the
opinion of a great many men acquaint-
ed with the pine forests that if the
land, after being cleared of pine, can be
successfully protected from fires, a re-
growth Of pine will occur, though slow
ly. Much of the soil from which pine
has been and is being cut is sandy, and
would yield a better income-bearlng Tor
est in Minnesota than any field crop.
The subject of reproduction of pine
has brought out statements by few
owners Of timber land in Minnesota,
in answers to circulars and letters issued
by c. G. Andrews.
Robert X. Boyd of Eau Claire, Wis,
writes that in that state regrowth of
white pine occurs only on clay or black
loan soil. On such soil there comes
first a growth of deciduous trees, largely
oak, birch, soft maple and poplar: Aft
err this has grown to be say from 10 to 50
feet in height the white pine appears,
mostly in clusters here and there, and
makes a rapid growth. On sandy soil
no such growth exists, but the ground
remains mostly devoid of timber. In
his opinion a regrowth of pine cannot
be produced, since it can only be pro-
tected in places where it springs up of
itself.
Claire, Wis, writes as follows: 'Our eX-
perience in Minnesota is of very few
years. In Wisconsin, which may be
similar, we find that when we cut pine
tree another has never come in its place,
but instead a growth of white birch and
h. IN, sim
there is but little pine of small growth:
On the Black river there is much of
smaller growth, owing, perhaps, to less
of forest fires. We are much of the
opinion, predicating that opinion upon
observation in New England, that in the
wherever once Indigenous How to pro-
duce such growth, or how to aid It,. we
cannot advise or suggest, but we belleVe
that frequent forest fires will retard it's
coming. There is so much to be said re.
garding these matters, and so much OF
theory, that facts are only obtainable by
personal observation and experience IN
older parts Of our country. The growth
of pine, we believe, is much more rapid
than is generally considered
In order to get the opinions of the va
rious wardens scattered through the state
these questions to the fire wardens:
GLOW do you account for pine not
growing on land that has been cleared of
pine?' "Also state what has been your
observation in regard to the regrowth
of pine!'
We select from the numerous replies
the following as brief representative OBJ
servations by the different fire wardens.
Fires get in the old choppings. Settlers
should be encouraged to plant trees
around their houses and along the roads.
Pine will grow if fires do not destroy it.
nfx To min a
on clearings. There are not enough trees
left for seeders and for shelter for the
young plants A second growth of pine
has been observed on land that had been
cut over in Benton county, but the great
fire of 1894 cleared them out. Another
fire warden thinks the lack of moisture
is the principal cause.
A fire warden in the town of Industrial
observes that poplar and hickory brush
grow so rapidly as to leave no room for
anything else. He observed, however,
that where pine was removed thirteen
Years ago no young pine has appeared
until within the last three years, and
now there is one or more pine shoots
from one to three feet high for every
pine that was removed. Pine will grow
from seed if the young trees are not
destroyed by fire or other cause. Leave
| seed-bearing pines, and they VIII reseed
| the land if free from grass.
Others observe that after chopplng
| has been burned over it takes from three
| to five years to get thoroughly seeded to
| pine and poplar, but they will go after
a while if there are no second fires. He
| has observed several places where young
pines are growing now ten and twelve
| feet high, on choppings burned over
| within thirteen. years. While regroWth
| is not common. where it is found to any
extent it is always where the old stump
| age is thick, and has never been burned.
| AS many as $50 fire wardens answered
that the reason why white pine does not
grow on land that has been cleared OF
| pine is because the young pine is Killed
| by fire.-American Cultivator.
Hydraulic Cement from Cinders.
| Some time ago, says correspondent
! of the Iron Age. I became interested III
| the subject of the use of blast furnace
| cement for the purpose of manufacture
| ing hydraulic cement. With an analysis
(! of a standard Portland cement to guide
| me- | began my experiment.
The furnaces that I was then running
were using pure calcite and running on
| a very basic cinder. l graduated what
! cinder l needed by running small cur
rent into barrel of water. This then
sorted so as to use nothing but the fine
,:11, T I,,io oV,I fsC n dry