rapid grower, but demans a large amount of light. It is best used in mixture with spruce, pine, or some of our hardwoods. It can be set in pure plantations if it is desired to underplant when the trees are about twenty-five (25) years old. It makes excellent ties, posts and poles. Fence post size should be attained in fifteen. years. It is best to plant the tree during the fall rather than spring.

White Cedar.- This is a rapid growing tree. It is valuable for posts, poles and ties. It grows on nearly any kind of soil. The European larch and white cedar are our best fence post materials for planting.

Hardwoods

In some cases and for special purposes the owner may desire to grow hardwood rather than coniferous trees. In order to assist such parties, we are growing white ash, Carolina poplar and black locust.

White Ash.- Is a desirable tree for planting in this State outside of the Adirondacks on moist soils of fairly good quality. The trees, the first few years, will withstand heavy shade, but when established should have full light. It is a rapid grower and the wood is of great value.

Black Locust.- This tree is suitable for planting on any soil except undrained swamps. It is sensitive to frost, hence not adapted for planting in the Adirondack or Catskill regions. It requires a large amount of light and should not be used for underplanting or where there is much shade. It is liable to injury from wood borers in most localities and less loss to the plantation is sustained where locust is planted alternately with pine, spruce, European larch or other species, as soil requirements permit. In some cases black locust has been planted 12 x 12 feet, so that there would be little shade, grass would come in, and the ground could be used for pasture. Under such conditions the trees do not make such good growth.

Black locust makes one of the most durable fence posts, in which form it finds its greatest value. Size suitable for fence posts should be attained in twelve to fifteen years after planting if not injured by the borer.

Catalpa. The catalpa has been extensively recommended and advertised as a tree for forest planting. Its use in this State is limited and cannot be recommended for forestry purposes because it requires good agricultural land and much care after planting. In the purchase of this stock care should be taken to secure the hardy catalpa (Catalpa speciosa). It is sensitive to early frosts and should be planted only in the warmer portions of the State. There are many other trees better adapted to our uses. The claims made by nurserymen should not be accepted without careful investigation. We do not grow this tree on account of its limited use.

Black Walnut.- This tree has been planted in some localities on a large scale. The high price of lumber from this tree has been due to the very dark color of the heart wood which is secured only from old trees. It is a fast growing tree with but little soil requirements except a reasonable amount of moisture. It can be successfully grown throughout the State except in the mountain sections, but undoubtedly other trees can be planted to produce a merchantable crop in less time and with a larger profit on the investment.

Carolina Poplar.- Plantations can be started by using cuttings which have been rooted for one year in the nursery. If the land owner has a small garden patch where the cuttings can be set in nursery rows one foot a part and space two or three inches apart in the row, it would probably be advisable to buy the cuttings and root them for one year in this way. The tree is a rapid grower and should attain sizes suitable for pulpwood, excelsior and box boards in approximately fifteen years. The pulp and paper companies have found this wood satisfactory for their use when treated

by soda process, and it is especially suited for use in making excelsior.

When to Plant.-Trees should be planted when the growth is dormant and work can be done. Such seasons are during the spring after the frost is "out of the ground" and before the season's growth begins, also during the autumn after growth has ceased, and sufficiently long before the ground freezes to permit the soil to become firm. The exact time will vary with season and parts of the State, but will be approximately April 10-May 10 and September 1-October 15. The advantage of season is difficult to forecast. The weather following planting will largely govern the success of the planting, other factors being equal. Dry soil or

drought is very injurious. Dry summers are as likely to follow as is a dry fall. Spring seasons usually have more rainy weather, and thus greater loss of time. Fall planting offers other inducements. Labor is more plentiful, work less pressing and men can be boarded for less cost. Spring planting has been more popular, but fall planting has on the average been very successful provided there is a covering of snow during the winter. Fall planting on areas that are likely to be blown clear of snow suffer most.

How to Plant.- The small seedlings or transplants, no matter which kind are used, should be planted about two paces (about six feet) apart in both directions. This means that the trees are to be about six feet apart in all directions and if there is no waste space, about 1,200 trees are required to plant an acre.

There is nothing difficult about "setting" the trees out, but a few precautions should be observed.

First. If you purchase trees from the Conservation Commission, a notice will be sent you from the nursery about three days before they are shipped. This notice will advise you the exact date and place that they are to be shipped from. You should then

get in touch with the express office at which you have requested the shipment to be made, and obtain the trees as soon as possible after arrival. The trees should not be left in the package any longer than necessary because they may heat and thereby become injured. Second. When the trees are received, take them at once to the field where they are to be planted and there "Heel in." This

means digging a trench with an ordinary round pointed shovelthe width of the shovel blade about six inches deep and as long as is necessary to hold the trees which you have.

Third. Cut the wire holding the cover on the crate. Unpack the trees at once by taking bunch after bunch out and placing them upright in the trench (beginning at one end of the trench) and filling the trench solid with bundles and packing the bundles tight in the trench until all of the trees have been "heeled in." If you select a shady and moist place for "heeling in," it is very desirable.

After all the trees have been "heeled in" pack dirt firmly around the roots of the last bundles placed in the trench. This is necessary in order to assist the roots in retaining moisture. The trees may be kept in the bundles for several days. If the weather is dry, a good soaking with water is desirable.

Fourth. These trees are sold at a very low price and with the understanding that the crate is to be returned to the nursery from which it was shipped. Will you, therefore, use the crate as carefully as possible and return it to the express office, that it may be