The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-01-02
Notes from the Pennsylvania Experiment
Station.
Care OF Wood Land.

There have been several severe
wind storms during the summer ana
carly fall, and an unusual number of
trees have been blown down. Even q
casual observer must have noticed two
things about these trees: first, that
they were almost entirely our red and
black oaks, and second, that they
were more or less rotten at the heart.
Closely examined, many of them
show along their trunks defective
spots which indicate the decay within.
But it is often quite surprise that
trees that appear as though they
would keep on growing for many years
longer should SO easily topple over in
a storm. The red and black oaks are
much more subject to disease, and
hence to early failure and destruction
than are any others, but, in large
measure, the difficulty arises from the
fact that, in our valley woodlands es-
pecially, the oaks are almost all from
sprout growth. Very few are from
seed. Sprouts are of deceptive value
because they grow very rapidly for
few years aad overtop or crowd out
everything else. But they soon
change in growth rate and will never
make trees of full size. They not only
fail to develop a strong Independent
root system, but are peculiarly liable
to become diseased This comes pri-
marily from the old stump, and natur-
ally is exerted along and up the centre
of the trunk, slowly destroying the
heart wood. Owing to the greater
ease and quickness of the early growth
of the red and black oaks, and the
frequent culling out of the white oaks
for various purposes, our valley wood
lands are, unconsciously, undergoing a
marked change in varieties of trees;
the poorer kinds being left in very
large proportions.
There are many places where, for
various reasons, it seems desirable to
keep up bit of woodland. To have
the best and most productive it is nee
essary to exercise some care in the
varieties of trees, and this can scarcely
be done without some labor. Some
kinds, like the pines, make fair head
way by natural seeding, where condi-
tions are favorable; but the white oaks
do not as rule. Their acorns are
too easily destroyed, and the seed
llngs require some protection.
1t is possible, however, to secure
them by planting acorns directly in
the woodland wherever the trees are
not too thick. In the fall and early
winter is the best time to do this, us
ing some heavy tool to make an open
ing in the ground or among the rocks
sufficient to allow covering the acorn
and thus prevent-not freezing, but
the rapid thawing after freezing, as
well as the drying out, which are SO
fatal to those which germinate on the
surface. The spring will answer for
this very well, provided the acorns
have been kept slightly moist by bury
ing them IN the ground. A few days
! exposure to a dry atmosphere, no
matter how cool, is sufficient to de-
stroy their vitality.
i A reasonable amount of care in
planting and of subsequent protection
will enable any one to slowly restore
his oak woodlands and make then
much more productive than they
now are. w. A. BUcKHoUr.
The annual Reports and quarterl,
Bulletins of the Station will be sent
free of charge, on application, and in
J quirles on agricultural subjects ans
> wered so far as possible.
S Address,
H. P. ARMsBY, Director,
State College, Centre Co., Pa