Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-07-20
RAIN HELPED STATES TREES
Drought Killed Fewer Than Ever
the Past Year.
Vermont Has mt Least 4,OOO,O00 Thriv-
Ing Nurslings, Planted by state
GOO, 600 Added
This Year.

II YOU want your trees to grow give
them lots to drink. The state lost at most
only I've per cent. of it's 1915 planting
during the past year, as compared with
normal 10 to 10 per cent. in other years,
and mostly because of the kindness OF the
weather man. Drought is the chief cause
of loss. which amounts some years to 20
per cent. of all the trees set out YER
mont now has at least four million thriv-
ing young trees 30 per cent. Of which are
white pine. OF these q round million were
put into the ground this year. two-thirds
of them by private individuals or concerns
or corporations, and one-third by the
state
The state for several years has been a
/ big producer of musings and every year
adds to it's productivity. Its nurseries
have been iucreas ed to a capacity of n
million and one-half trees annually, so
that state Forester A. f. Halves didn't
have to turn down tho order Of single
buyer i'm 1916. as has been the case in
/ other years, and everybody was welcome
to any of the six varieties raised by pay
ing the cost price.
Tho department raises a variety Of DIFF
fercut trees: White pine, Scotch pine.
Norway pine and spruce, white ash and
cedar, and bosswuod, which, was added
to the list recently to meet the orders of
neXt year. Last year there were several
orders for Eastwood, which had to be re-
fused The wood is used quite extern
sivoly for excelsior and lumber.
Identification and investment seem to
he the motives of purchase of the trees.
The largest orders of the past season We're
as follows: Dr. William 5. Stevens Of
frosburg Falls for the town Of Enosburg.
10000 trees Dast few years., the largest
single plantation in the State city Of Rut-
land, through Mayor Bert l.. Stafford. 49,
COO ON the CitN's watershed about its res
ervoir, all white pine; Harry y. Ranney
of North Concord, 1loo0, four different
I Species The orchards, Bennington, li,Vyt
Of five or six species, Frank G. Partridge,
president of the Vermont Marble COM
, pauy OF Proctor 5000; Miss Emily Proc
tor Of Proctor. 5000. the Vermont Marble
company itself 50,Glo half white pine
land half spruce set out in Windham coun-
. ty; Judge Charles Beckett 1900 in OF
about Williamstown: George w. Caldbeck
of st. Johnsbury, 10000; village of Bellows
Falls, 1900 for village park; State insane
asylum at Waterbury, 1000, the State
providing the trees and the inmates plant
ing them: Ward Lumber company. More
2 town, 1900 set out on hurned-over land
Dix ]. Camp Of Randolph, the man who
went to the exposition ut San Francisco
last summer in Ford. 1000 Charles A
Plumley. state tax commissioner, 1900 a
Northned.
The buying of the States trees is wis'
move for anybody who can use them, o
= any corporation. Some OF the trees ar
: fine shademakers and beautifers; nearl,
all are good Investments. A safely con
, scrvatiVe estimate OF profit is six pc
. cent. net, counting out assessments AM
losses of many sorts. If It weren't 70
taxes. which are heavy in some towns
the interest on the investment woul
=, 'amount to a good deal more than that
The lumber concerns are beginning TO Sc
on which side their bread is buttered an
:, appreciate the fact that trees at cost pric
of good quality are not to be picked u
everywhere. The state itself benefits be
- cause in years to come at the presen
steady rate Of growth no more trees
- theoretically at least-need be set ou
= But the lumber companies of course wi
y cut when the trees are mature.
10 The state has chosen a variety Of tree
g sufficient to suit all parts of Vernon
=. practically speaking. The Scotch pine
>. uneXCclled for a sandy soil; the Norwa
p spruce thrivcS on the hills and highe
q, reaches. The Eastwood does not matur
quite so early as the spruce and is harde
The Scotch pine planted in 1863 are no
IF nearly % feet high and in two or thre
lie years will be bearing seed which the
re owners can use. The State in this wa
lc will be able to collect a quantity OF see
Is from plantations such as that at Wate
N bury a 20-foot tree in seven years tin
is fast enough for safety The white pir
y is a splendid forest tree well as lumb,
$ tree. and the state has stuck to it a
I- most from the start. Next in number
~ comes the Norway spruce, while tn
IT, Scotch pine stands third.
III Wiudham and Windsor counties on II
SO east side Of the state have received large
paintings than the west side. This hi
rs been due not so much 70 the nature Of II
" soil and the location as to the ndividu
d planters themselves
D. Next to drought the chief sources
US loss of trees are grazing, when deer r.
% loose or sheep break bounds. and fore
OF fires. The State has been fortunate
ST the small number Of it's fires, howeve
and such losses are at minimum.