The important timber trees of the United States; a manual of practical forestry for the user of foresters, students and laymen in forestry, lumbermen, farmers and other land-owners, and all who contemplate growing trees for economic purposes

Front matter

THE IMPORTANT TIMBER TREES

OF i

THE UNITED STATES I

Preface

The sincere but mistaken belief that our forests were inexhaustible was quite a natural one. Such a conclusion arose from their vast extent and vigorous growth, and when a cry for their protection and conservation was heard, it was, at first, deemed but a repetition of the cry of "Wolf ! " in the fable, and was unheeded. In the beginning the cry was very faint and apparently far away ; but it grew louder and nearer as the danger of irreparable disaster became more imminent, and we now hear it in strong voice and on every hand. As this awakening to the impending danger has become widespread, there arises in the public mind a strong and earnest desire to know (1) whether the productive capacity of the forests of our country is adequate to meet the demands which will inevitably be made upon them ; and, if not, (2) whether any system of conservation which will make it adequate can be devised and applied. Moreover, the public desires to know (3) whether planting new forests on non-agricultural land, where the axe of the lumberman and successive fires have destroyed all valuable tree-growth, is practicable ; and, if so, (4) what species of trees would best be grown, where they should be planted, and how they can best be propagated and cared for.

A comprehensive answer to the first two of these inquiries must take cognizance of the condition of existing forests and, likewise, their possible future productive capacity. Such answer should show whether we are consuming our forests faster than they grow ; and whether, under any system of forest management, they can be made to meet such future demands as the inevitable increase of population and new uses for forest products are sure to bring about. And the answer to the last two will, necessarily, viii PREFACE

comprise and set forth the details of what may best be termed Practical Forestry. The question how well I have met these inquiries is submitted to the judgment of those who will peruse the following pages.

My endeavor has been to make the work a Manual of Practical Forestry, — indulging in theory no more than is necessary to show the basis upon which theory rests. It is not claimed that a study of this volume will make a fully equipped forester ; for a study of no one book nor of all books can alone do that. The impossible has not been attempted. A fully endowed forester must have both a theoretical and a practical knowledge of all matters pertaining to tree-life, and to this should be added broad experience and large opportunities for observation, covering the restoration, productivity, harvesting, care, and perpetuation of forests grown and maintained for economic purposes. The average person who may desire to grow trees for such use cannot devote the necessary time to acquiring as full a knowledge of the science of forestry as the expert must possess. Such a course would, for him, be impracticable. It is claimed, however, that by a careful study of the contents of this volume one may, with the exercise of good judgment, successfully grow trees for economic purposes without being compelled to call in the services of a trained expert, or without being forced to roam through the domain of botany, dendrology, and silviculture, or to master mensuration, stem analysis, or other purely technical features of scientific forestry. Not that experts possessing such knowledge are unnecessary, for they are necessary, and the country cannot do without them any more than it can dispense with the services of highly educated men in agriculture, or any other line of industry on which the welfare of our country depends. But the average successful farmer does not have to depend wholly upon experts in agriculture successfully to carry on his farming operations, although he may and should be guided by their teachings. Neither should he, when he essays to grow trees for his own use, be

PREFACE ix

compelled to call in the services of an expert in forestry ; nor should any landowner, when he desires to reclothe his denuded lands with valuable species of trees, be unable intelligently to direct such work.

Technical terms are avoided wherever possible, but are absolutely necessary to identify the several species, for nearly all of our valuable timber trees are loaded with numerous local common names, — some have more than a score, — and identification would be impossible without the use of a scientific name which has been established by usage and common consent and adopted by all recognized authorities. A glossary of all these terms will be found in the Appendix, on a page devoted to that purpose. In giving the common and scientific names of the several species of trees which are considered worthy of consideration, I have followed the Check List of the Forest Trees of the United States, by George B. Sud worth, Dendrologist of the United States Forest Service, as the one which should be accepted as a standard of authority. In no other case is a technical term used where there is a substitute, and where there is no substitute the meaning of the term is explained.

Perusal will disclose the fact that the main purpose of this volume is to urge, aid, and encourage tree-growing for economic purposes only, and it is more than probable that the reader will ask why certain species now being largely used have been deemed of enough importance to be described at length and yet are not recommended for cultivation. The answer is that the forests of the future must be largely grown with planted trees, and there is no reason why we should plant or in any wise grow any but the most suitable and valuable ones — those that will produce the best and most needed forest products in the shortest time, and with the least labor and expense ; and such only have been recommended. AVe now accept less valuable species because they are present with us and they have cost us nothing to grow. Hereafter it will cost both money and labor and require much time to grow forests, and in the

X PREFACE

not distant future the price of forest products will be based upon the cost of production. If White Pine, which is easily propagated, will grow to be a merchantable tree in seventy-five years, and a Hemlock, which can be grown with difficulty, will require from one hundred and twenty-five to one hundred and fifty years to reach the same dimensions, and the product of the Pine be worth twice that of the Hemlock, it should be known, and when known there would be no question as to which should be planted. It is sometimes a good thing to know what not to do, and we cannot determine which species are best adapted to cultivation unless we know the habits, character, and comparative value of each. There are enough valuable species to choose from and there is no reason why we should choose any but the very best, always keeping in mind the demands of the market, the uses the wood can be put to, the adaptability of the tree to the soil, climate, and location, and the rapidity of growth and facility of production.

Another feature may cause surprise in the minds of some of my readers. It is not at all improbable that some of the descriptions of trees considered do not agree with the reader's personal observation, and yet such descriptions may well fit the general average of the tree. The character and general appearance of trees are frequently modified to a great extent by location, climate, and soil. Trees of a given species grown in the same vicinity will often vary in form and sometimes in character of wood ; therefore a description of the general average will best fit the case, and to give such has been my endeavor.

Much time and labor have been spent in the preparation of this work, and while it is largely drawn from my own personal observations I feel myself greatly indebted to the aid which others have generously given me. I would gladly here publicly recognize the work of each, but they are too numerous, and I content myself with the personal acknowledgments which I have given by letter or otherwise. I have endeavored to give due credit to aU authors from

PREFACE xi

whom I have consciously copied. Such recognition will be found in its appropriate place. I must not fail, however, to recognize here the value of the services and courtesies extended to me by the Forest Service of the United States, through its able dendrologist, Mr. George B. Sudworth, and also to extend grateful acknowledgments for the use of many of the photographs here shown, due credit being given on each. I take great pleasure in expressing my gratification at the approval and suggestions of Professor F. W. Rane, State Forester of Massachusetts, to whom was submitted the manuscript before it was placed in the hands of the publishers. Professor Rane's approval is of moment, as it comes from one of the most pi-actical foresters in the country.

S. B. E.

Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania, April, 1912.

PART I I. Introductory 3

II. Present Condition of the Forests .... 8

III. Restoration and Treatment of Forests ... 14

IV. Artificial Restoration 22

V. Forest Demands . 31

VI. Difficulties of Reforestation 38

VII. Planting the Forest ........ 43

VIII. Where and What to Plant 49

IX. When to Harvest 53

X. The Woodlot 58

XI. Life-History of a Tree 63

XII. Classification and Character of Wood ... 79

XIII. The Forest Nursery 87

XIV. The Transplant Nursery Ill

XV. How to care for and when to sow Forest Seeds 115

XVI. Tap-Root 119

XVII. When to Plant Trees in the Forest . . . 121

XVIII. Spacing Trees in the Forest 123

XIX. Will Planting Forests ever become Profitable? 126

PART II xiv CONTENTS

The Firs 1S9

The Eastern Firs 189

The Western Firs 191

The Hemlocks 203

Red Cedar 207

White Cedar 210

Western Red Cedar 213

The Sequoias 22G

The Oaks: White Oak Class 231

The Elms 296

The Birches 306

Butternut 317

Cucumber 326

CONTENTS XV

The Gums 338

Eucalyptus 348

Bkoadleaf Trees of the Pacific Slope 351