Trees And Tree-Planting | by James S. Brisbin

To destroy the forests of America has been a brief work; to replant and reproduce them will be the labor of forty generations, but it can be done. I have written many books and submitted them to my countrymen for their approval, but never have I approached a subject with such diffidence and consciousness of my inability to cope with it as the one treated of in the following pages.

Title	Trees And Tree-Planting
Author	James S. Brisbin
Publisher	Harper & Brothers
Year	1888
Copyright	1888, Harper & Brothers
Amazon	Trees and Tree Planting

By Gen. James S. Brisbin, U. S. A.

New York Harper & Brothers, Franklin Square

Introduction: I believe in God and my country. And if, after an implicit faith in an All-wise Providence, there is any one thing more than another on which I rely, it is the wisdom and prudence of the American peop...

Introduction. Continued: Thank God for noble trees, How stately, strong, and grand These bannered giants lift their crests O'er all this beauteous land. The sight of a forest in the early morning, when the dew is on th...

Chapter I. Forest Destruction: Effect of Forest Destruction upon a Country.—Effects Produced in Europe and Asia.—The Ancient Habitableness of those Regions Contrasted with Modern Barrenness and Unproductiveness.—Forests as an Essen...

Chapter II. Consequences Of Forest Destruction: The Wasteful Havoc of Forest-lands, and its Serious Consequences.— The Indifference Manifested towards Remedying the Evil. — The Action of Public Corporations on Forest-lands.—The Efforts of Dr. Drak...

Chapter III. Effect Of Forests On A Country: The Effect of Trees on Humidity, Evaporation, Rainfall, and Prevailing Winds. —Nebraska's Generous Labor in Behalf of the Reproduction of Trees, and her Reward. — Humidifying Influence of the Pacific...

Chapter IV. Danger Of Timber Famine: Convincing Proofs of the Approach of a Timber Famine.—Manufacture of Charcoal in New England, and Quantities of Wood Annually Consumed thereby. — The Destruction of Forests on the Tittabawassee and Ca...

Chapter V. Destroying The Redwood: A Description of the Redwood Forests.—Lumbering Operations in the Redwood Forests in Detail.—The Advantages of Skilled Axemen in Lumbering Operations.—The Axeman's Efficiency in Time of War.—The Mill ...

Logging In California: The following account of the manner of handling the redwood logs is condensed from the Scientific Americcm of recent date, and may be found interesting. The manner of preparing the tree, and treating ...

Chapter VI. Famous Trees Of The World: The Forest World and Human Life Compared.—Remarkable-sized Trees, Where Found.—The Largest and Oldest Specimens in the World.—Adanson's Experience of the Age of Trees.—The African Baobab, Californi...

Famous Trees Of The World. Continued: By the city of Teustadt, in the kingdom of Vurtem-berg, there stood a linden-tree which* was antique in 1229, for it is written that the city of Neustadt, then called Helmbundt, was-destroyed in 1226...

Chapter VII. The Oldest Timber In The World: Where Found, and Uses to which Put.—Its Present Preserved Condition and Sacred History.—The Ancient Trees of America, Where Found.—Petrified Relics.—Evidences of Ancient Tree-growth in Nevada.—Indian ...

Chapter VIII. The Beauty Of Trees: Their Varieties of Feature and Form and Diversity of Character.— The Attributes of Trees.—The Essential Condition of Beauty in Trees.—Beauty of Forest Retreats.—The Forest Enjoyments and Joyous Inhabi...

Chapter IX. Influence Of Trees On Climate: Forest Resources of India.—Formation and Development of the Forest Service of India.—Utility of Indian Forests, of What Consisting.—Traces of Flooded Areas.—Decrease of Stream in Punjab Rivers, to Wha...

Chapter X. Warmth Of Trees In Winter And Coolness In Summer: Temperature of Trees.—Their Winter Warmth and Summer Coolness.—Differences of Temperature of Different Trees Illustrated.— Heat-producing Property of Trees Exemplified.—Local Heating Influence of Fore...

Chapter XI. The Blood Of Trees: Experiments in Connection with the Circulation of Sap in Trees.— Variety of Sap-exuding Trees.—Non Sap-yielding Species.—The Influence of Climate on Flow of Sap.—Composition of Sap, to What Due. — Dis...

The Blood Of Trees. Continued: In case of a tree tapped on both the north and south sides at the same level, it was found that the north spout yielded daily about twice as much sap as the south, and continued to flow nearly two wee...

Chapter XII. Shelter-Belts: Vegetable Need of Protection Illustrated. — Observed Fallacies and Reasonable Contradictions.—Laws of Heat Radiation Demonstrated. —Nightly Atmospheric Heating.—Condition and Elevation of Air Favorabl...

Motion Of The Atmospheee: There is a marked contrast in the motion of a liquid like water, and an elastic, gaseous fluid like air. If we place an impediment in a creek the water immediately flows around the impediment, and wil...

Facts: All this, some will say, is theory. But Kansas in 1874 gave us, along the line of the M. K. and T. E. E., and in other parts of the state, some important facts in this direction. There are many parts ...

Chapter XIII. Kinds Of Trees To Plant: The White, Blue, Black, Green, Red, and European Ashes.—Their Growth, Usefulness, and Manner of Culture. — Climate and Soil best Suited to their Growth.— Distinguishing Traits and Properties of Variet...

The Ash: This is one of the best trees for forest-culture. It grows rapidly, is easily raised, and of great money value. Mr. Hollenbeck, of Nebraska, has, in Douglas County, a piece of ash timber he planted in...

The White Ash: The ashes greatly resemble each other in their quality of wood, but for profit and cultivation the white and blue ashes undoubtedly lead. Most of the farm utensils manufactured in this country are par...

The Blue Ash: This tree grows principally upon the river bottoms of the Mississippi valley; also on the banks of the Illinois River and its branches as far north as Bureau County, beyond which it becomes rare. It i...

Black Ash: Black Ash has the same characteristics as others of the ash family: its chief use is in the manufacture of barrels, baskets, and hoops for barrels, but it is less durable than others of its species wh...

Red Ash: Red Ash is said to be more numerous than any of its brethren in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia. Doctor Gray affirms that it is very rare west of the Alleghanies, but it is found in v...

Geeen Ash: This is quite an ordinary-sized tree, and is chiefly found upon the banks of rivers. It is quite a handsome tree, its leaves being very nearly alike on both sides. It possesses the -good qualities of ...

The Mountain Ash: This tree is cultivated for ornament in many parts of the United States, within the neighborhoods of Boston, Philadelphia, etc., where it attains considerable dimensions, sometimes reaching the height...

The Ameeican Floweeing Ash: This tree is a native of North America, and attains the height of thirty or forty feet. It has an abundant and extensive foliage, and is. highly prized as an ornamental tree. Its general characteristi...

Chapter XIV. The Walnut: Its Culture, Usefulness, and Productiveness.—Value of the Walnut as a Crop.—Seed per Acre.—Its Nativity.—Traces of its Antiquity and Introduction into Europe.—Recognized Roman Varieties and their Name...

The Black Walnut: This tree is found in the Atlantic States and the Mississippi Valley, in most places where the soil is deep and rich. It is also found in Illinois, but where it once ranked in that state with the ash ...

The Butternut: This tree is common throughout the northern portion of the United States, from the Atlantic to the Rockies: it thrives best in a cold climate. Its wood is soft, finegrained, and of a light-brown color...

The English Walnut: The English Walnut is largely cultivated in Europe, both for its timber and fruit. The black walnut is far superior, both as a shade-tree and for its timber. It would hardly pay to cultivate the tree ...

Chapter XV. The Maples: The Sugar Maple: its Productiveness, Peculiarities of Growth, Foliage, and Manner of Culture.—A Proposition AVorthy of Note.— Placing Maple-groves with Respect to Shelter.—The Advantages of Regular Pl...

Sugar Maple: Me. Potstey, an experienced tree-grower, says an acre of sugar maples at twenty-five years of age will average one foot in diameter and produce two thousand pounds of sugar annually. When the trees m...

The Soft Maple: The soft maple, in its wild state, is an uncouth and shaggy tree; when grown closely, in a cultivated grove, it is much improved in appearance and a most useful tree. I have seen numerous patches well...

Box Eldee, Or Ash-Leaved Maple: A very ornamental tree, and in favorable situations reaches the height of fifty or sixty feet; it grows along the banks of streams; its growth is astonishingly rapid. It is very short-lived in dry soi...

The Moose-Wood Or Steiped Maple: This is a very small tree, generally from ten to twenty feet in height. It is found among the Alleghanies, and from Maine to Wisconsin and southward. It has deep, dense, heavy leaves, and smooth, figh...

The Noeway Maple: This tree, when first starting to grow, is very tardy for the first two or three years, but afterwards is of very rapid growth. Its foliage is more dense, its leaves come earlier in the spring and ret...

The Large-Leaved Maple: This is a most graceful tree, and, when grown in soil and climate favorable to its thrift, attains a height varying from forty to ninety feet, with a diameter of from two to five feet. The bark of its...

The Round-Leaved Maple: The round-leaved maple is a native of the northwestern coast of the American continent, between the forty-second and fiftieth degrees of latitude, where it arrives at the height of from twenty to fort...

Chapter XVI. The Elms: The White Elm.—Its Usefulness and Demand.—Growth and Attainment.—Elms, How Planted.—Additional Cropping of Area.—Resistance against Insects.—Its Use as a Shade-tree.—The Elm as Described by Michaux.—...

White Elm: The white elm is a fine forest tree, and the demand for this wood is every year increasing as the old stock disappears. Plough-handles, cheese-boxes, chairs, and many manufactured articles are made f...

The Wahoo, Or Winged Elm: This rather uncommon species of the elm is so scarce that little can be said in regard to it. It grows to the height of thirty or forty feet, and is distinguished by the corky ridges on the opposite s...

The Red Elm: The red elm is the brother of the white elm, but it inhabits higher and dryer ground. As a shade-tree it is splendid, and grows rapidly. The wood is used for carriages, and also makes excellent fuel. ...

Chapter XVII. The Locust: The Honey-Locust.—Where Found and Convenient Usefulness.—Its Growth and Value.—Locust-wood as Pavement.—An Exceptional Specimen.—Uses of the Thorny and Thornless Varieties, and their Characteristics.—...

The Honey-Locust: This is an admirable hedge-plant and a tree of great value, and on the river bottoms of Illinois honey-locusts are found from eighty to one hundred feet high and four feet thick. Dr. Warder, of Ohio,...

The Water-Locust: This is a much smaller tree than the honey-locust, but its general characteristics are the same. It is found in the southern portion of Illinois. It is inferior to the wood of the honey-locust, and is...

The Yellow Locust: This tree is sparingly produced in its native home— Kentucky and western Tennessee—where it attains a height of from thirty-five to fifty feet and a diameter of ten to twelve inches, and is also succe...

The Black Or Common Locust: The common locust is indigenous to the country west of the Alleghanies as far as Arkansas; and without the maritime parts, to the distance of forty to ninety miles, it is planted for purposes of utili...

The Hose-Flowered Locust: This tree appears to be chiefly confined to the Alle-ghanies, where it is found on the banks of rivers in Georgia and Carolina, growing to a height varying from thirty to forty feet. The bark is of a ...

Chapter XVIII. The Chestnut: A Favorable Notice.—Its Remunerative Returns.—Manner of Setting Out and Caring For.—Benefits of Cutting Back.—Ground Suited to its Growth.—A Difficulty of its Raising.—Manner of Sowing its Seed—Winter...

The Chincapin: This variety of the chestnut on a small scale is found as a shrub in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, but in the Southern States it grows to the height of thirty or forty feet. The fruit is sma...

Chapter XIX. The Box-Elder: Its Nativity.—Range of Growth and Soil Suited to its Growth.—General Appearance and Duration of Life.—Description of its Wood, Bark, and Leaf. — Large Specimens, Where Found. — Manner of Sowing its S...

Chapter XX. The Birch: The Canoe-Birch.—Its Romantic and Legendary Connections.—Youthful Reminiscences.—Its Native Home and Attainable Dimensions. —Color and Use of its Bark.—European and American Birch.— Their Growth.—Adva...

Chapter XXI. The Hickory: Its Favored Emblematic Character.—Productive Qualities.—Manner of Planting for Fruit and for Wood.—The Shellbark Hickory.— Its Features, Form, and Character. — Its Twofold Merits. — The Thick Shellba...

Shellbark Hickory: This is a lofty tree, reaching to the height of eighty feet, with a diameter of two feet; the trunk is of the same diameter and without limbs for the greater portion of its height. This tree is noted ...

Thick Shellbark Hickoey: This tree bears a slightly flattened, thick - shelled, strongly-pointed nut, with a light, apple-green hull. It is a very tall tree, and is sometimes mixed with the shellbark hickory on account of the...

Pignut Hickory: This is a large tree, growing to the height of eighty feet, and about four feet in diameter. It is found in its greatest abundance east of the AUeghanies. It is not at all common in our Western States...

The Mocker Nut: This tree grows to the height of fifty or sixty feet, and about twenty inches in diameter. It is the slowest growing of all the hickories, and hence cultivators will hardly care to wait for its growth...

The Pecan Nut: This tree grows to a height of sixty or seventy feet, with a diameter of from two to three feet. This is a very beautiful tree; tall, straight, and well-shaped trunk. The timber is inferior to the res...

The Butternut Hickoey: This member of the hickory family I cannot recommend, on account of its being liable to be attacked by a small black beetle, which bores through the inner bark and deposits its eggs, which usually num...

Chapter XXII. The Pines: Their Rank among Trees.—Uses to Which Put. — Produce of the Pine.—Places Famous for its Growth.—Its Ornamental Advantages.—The White Pine.—Its Attainable Height and Size.—Scarcity of the Pine in New E...

The White Pine: This is one of the best-known of our American trees, and reaches a height of from one hundred to one hundred and eighty feet, with a diameter of from two and a half to six feet. So much of our pine ha...

The Bed Pine: This tree is common in the northern part of the United States, a portion of the British provinces, and also in some parts of Michigan and Wisconsin. It frequently reaches the height of from eighty...

Gbat Or Scrub Pine: This tree is found very widely diffused all along the northern portion of the United States, and thence to the Arctic Ocean; in lower Canada and Labrador it is only a straggling shrub from three to te...

Yellow Pine: This tree is found from the New England States to Florida. In the West it is found in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri; and Bryant claims to have found small trees among the sand - hills at the sout...

Pitch Pine: This tree is confined to the Atlantic States, it never being found west of the Alleghanies, and occupies, like most of its brethren, sandy, poor soil; it seldom exceeds from thirty-five to forty feet ...

Stone Pine: This tree is found extensively in the Alps and in Siberia ; its chief use is for carving and fancy inlaid work, it being especially adapted for this work on account of the absence, or nearly so, of th...

Loblolly Or Oldfield Pine: This tree cannot be given much space, as it is not only inferior as a thing of beauty to many others of its brethren, but its timber is very spongy and not worth anything, excepting where other lum...

Corsican Pine: This tree, which is a native of Corsica, is very valuable as a lumber tree, and reaches the height of from one hundred to one hundred and forty feet. It is very shortlived and of very rapid growth, gr...

Chapter XXIII. Cedars: White Cedar.—Where Found and Soil Suited to its Growth.—Its Chief Uses.—Its Ornamental Value. —The Red Cedar.—Its Attainable Growth, Usefulness, and General Appearance.—Its Vegetating Properties.—Reas...

Common Juniper: This tree is a native of both the Old and the New World, but our American variety is nothing more than a straggling shrub. It is the chief food of a great many varieties of birds. The European variety...

The Cedran-Tree: This is a species of the family of cedars, and is found indigenous only in Central America. It is of more stunted growth than any of its brethren of northern latitudes, and bears a large bean, similar...

Chapter XXIV. Lindens: Where Found.—Their Classification— Quality and Durability of their Wood.—Their Ornamental and other Uses.—European Linden.— Its Principal Uses and Growth.—White Linden.—Description of Leaf.—Range of G...

Chapter XXV. Larches: The Black Larch, or Tamarack. —Its Singular Beauty, Attainable Height, and Appearance.—Its Range of Growth.—Soil Suited to its Growth, with Difference of Opinion.—Its Durability and Usefulness.—A Prac...

Chapter XXVI. The Magnolias: The Cucumber-tree. — Its Range and Manner of Growth.—Its Attainable Height and Ornamental Character.—How Propagated.— Yellow Cucumber-tree.—Where Found. — Its Beauty and Ornamental Character. — Qualit...

Chapter XXVII. Yellow Wood: Its Rarity and Limited Height.—Where Found and General Characteristics.—Manner of Preserving and Sowing its Seed.— The Dogwood.—Cornel Dogwood.—Its Singularity of Species and Diffused Growth. — Its Or...

The Dogwood - Cornel Dogwood: This is the only species of dogwood in the United States. It is found in nearly every state of the Union, and is from twenty to thirty feet high. It has a diameter of from ten to twelve inches. The wo...

Jamaica Dogwood: This tree belongs to a large and important order of the pulse family, familiar representatives of which are found in the locust, tamarind, and the like. The majority of the plants that belong to this ...

The Date - Plum Persimmon - Persimmon: The persimmon-tree usually reaches the height of from fifty to sixty feet, and from twenty to twenty-four inches in diameter. The leaves are about five inches long and pointed, of a beautiful dark bot...

The Mulberry - Red Mulberry: This tree is found east of the Mississippi River, and reaches a height of from seventy to eighty feet. While in its young state it makes very rapid progress, but after it has reached a few inches in d...

The Black Mulberry: This tree, though a native of Europe, is found in a wild state in this country. It is not nearly as large as the red mulberry, and is of much slower growth. Its wood is not of any value, but its fruit...

The White Mulberry: The leaves of this tree are its main distinguishing mark, being about eight inches long and about six inches broad, and heart-shaped. The tree grows to a height of from thirty to forty feet. It is onl...

Chapter XXVIII. The Bow-Wood, Or Osage Orange: Range of Growth, and Soil Favorable to its Growth.—Its Attainable Height.—The Incorruptible Property of its Wood.—Color of its Wood, Uses for which Pit, and Advantages.—Its Productiveness and Famed El...

Chapter XXIX. The Ailantus, Or Tree Of Heaven: Its Height, Size, and Nativity.—Its Adaptability to Arid Places, with Recommendation.—Manner of Growth, Description and Uses of its Wood.—Description of its Leaf and Flower.—When First Introduced into...

Chapter XXX. The Buckeye: Similarity of Species and General Characteristics to Horse-chestnuts. — Horse-chestnut Buckeye.— Its Elevation and Nativity. — Its Manner of Growth and Soil Suited to its Growth. — Its Foliage and Fru...

Horse-Chestnut Buckeye: This tree, which rises to the height of eighty feet, was first known to Europe at Constantinople about the beginning of the sixteenth century, and is only cultivated here as an. ornamental tree. It is...

Ohio Buckeye: This tree reaches the height of forty or fifty feet; it is one of the first trees to put forth leaves in the spring. It is only recommended for its beauty ; cattle sometimes kill themselves from gorgi...

The Sweet Buckeye: This tree reaches the height of from ninety to a hundred feet, and from two to three feet in diameter; it has not the disagreeable odor of the foregoing members of its species, hence the name of sweet...

The Bed Buckeye: This species is little more than a large shrub. It has large, bright spikes of red flowers that have a very pleasant odor. It is found widely scattered through all the rich bottom lands east of the Mi...

The Edible Buckeye: This species in its natural state is of low growth, seldom exceeding four feet, and is of the evergreen variety; but with proper or careful management in its culture it attains the height of a moderat...

Chapter XXXI. The Tupelo: The Tupelo, Black Gum, or Pepperidge.—Its Variety and Allied Characteristics.—Their Floral Fragrance.—How Raised, Size, and Range of Growth.—Texture of its Wood and for What Esteemed.—Its Twofold Prop...

Tupelo, Black Gum, Or Pepperidge: The tupelos are deciduous trees of North America, with characteristics so nearly allied that I have called them only two distinct varieties. They produce an agreeable, fragrant flower early in the spr...

The Wild Lime-Tree: This tree closely resembles its brother, the black gum-tree, except in its fruit, which is larger, its wood softer, and it has a stone that is deeply grooved on both sides; its fruit is intensely acri...

Chapter XXXII. The Juneberry: Its Noticeable Beauty.—Its Attainable Height.—Its Floral and Fruit Productiveness.—Its Foliage Described.—The Non-distinctive Difference of European and American Varieties.—Its Range of Growth. — Soil...

The Papaw: The papaw is commonly only a large shrub, but by extraordinary effort it sometimes reaches the height of twenty or twenty-five feet, with a diameter of eight inches. It bears a purple flower of great ...

Chapter XXXIII. The Catalpa: Its Scattered Range, Height, and Growth.—Its Flower and Foliage Described.—Occurrence of its Bud and Fall of Leaf.—Its Climate and Thrift.—Its Self-propagating Properties.—Durability and other Propert...

Chapter XXXIV. The Hackberry: Its Attainable Height and Size.—Its Appearance and Characteristics. —Description and Uses of its Wood.—Its Odorous Production.— Its Range of Growth.—The Largest of its Species, Where Growing.—How Prop...

The Hackberry: This tree, which rises to the height of from eighty to ninety feet, with a diameter of eighteen to twenty-four inches, and a trunk straight and undivided for a great height, is supported on all sides ...

The Red-Bud: This is either a small tree or a large shrub, but usually the latter; it reaches the height of from twelve to thirty feet. Its flowers are small and of a fine pink color; they cover the tree all over,...

Chapter XXXV. The Fringe-Tree: Its Limited Height.—Its Native Range and Ornamental Value.—Its Floral Productiveness.—Its Variety of Name.—Its Classified Belongings.—Its Medicinal and other Properties—Its Possible Perfect-nessby Gra...

The Iron-Wood: This tree belongs to the northern portion of the United States and Canada. It grows to the height of from thirty to forty feet. The wood is very heavy, compact, and durable; also exceedingly fine grai...

Chapter XXXVI. The Buttonwood, Aspen, And Poplar: The Buttonwood or Plane-tree.—Its Extensive Range and Abundant Growth.—Its General Appearance and Elevation.—Its Peculiar Disadvantages.—Description of its Seed and Manner of Sowing.—The Aspen.—Its Nu...

The Buttonwood, Or Plane-Tree: This tree is common throughout the Northern, Middle, and Western States. It rises to a height of from one to three hundred feet, with a diameter of from two to eight feet. It is not valuable either a...

The Aspen: There are many species of the aspen, most of which attain considerable size. Their foliage and wood greatly resemble each other, and most of them are of very rapid growth, but are equalled if not exce...

American Aspen: This tree, which seldom exceeds the height of thirty or forty feet, is found in the British Provinces, and in the northern part of the United States. It has a soft, white wood with the grain very much...

Large Aspen: This tree grows and is found in the same locality as the American aspen, but is much longer lived and a more valuable tree. It is sometimes sawed into square timber and used where it can be kept dry; ...

Downy-Leaved Poplar: This species is rather rare in the North, but is found from Tennessee southward. It grows to the height of from eighty to ninety feet, with a diameter of three feet. It has a downlike covering to its ...

The White Poplar: This tree is one of the most common throughout our country, and has been planted as an ornamental tree from time to time, but in a little while, instead of being a thing of beauty and a joy forever, i...

Chapter XXXVII. Cherry-Trees: Wild Black Cherry.—Its Native Range.—Preferred Use of its Wood. — Its Ornamental Character. — Its Productiveness. — Manner of Preserving and Sowing its Seed.—The Wild Red Cherry.—Its Attainable Height...

Wild Red Cheery: This tree grows to the height of from thirty to forty feet, with a diameter of from eight to twelve inches. It has all the good points of the black cherry, but is much inferior in size. The wood is of...

Chapter XXXVIII. The Willows: The White Willow.—Its Ornamental Value and Elevated Growth.— Manner of Growth and Usefulness.—Its Supposed Worthlessness the Eesult of Fraud.—Description of its Wood.—The Brittle Willow.—Its Height, G...

The White Willow: This is a very ornamental tree, and rises to the height of eighty or ninety feet, with a diameter of from four to six feet. It is rapid of growth, and makes a good windbreak. Some sharpers, quite rece...

Chapter XXXIX. The Spruces: White Spruce.—Its Attainable Height and Size.—Its Northern Nativity.— Principal Uses of its Wood. — The Oil Extracted from its Branches.—The Black Spruce.—Atmosphere Favorable to its Development.—Its ...

White Spruce: This tree sometimes attains the height of sixty feet, with a diameter of from fifteen to twenty inches. It is found from the northern portion of the United States to the Arctic Ocean, but is not quite...

Black Speuce: The black spruce must have a cool, moist atmosphere in order to arrive at its full development, and thrives more luxuriantly in wilds congenial to its growth than under the most skilful culture. The c...

Norway Spruce: The Norway spruce reaches to the height of from one hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty feet. It is a beautiful, straight tree, with a diameter of from two to five feet. Michaux claims that it...

Hemlock Spruce: This tree is found as far north as Hudson's Bay, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It thrives best in cold places, and is found near the top and on the slopes of some of our highest mountain-range...

Balsam Fir: This is a native of the coldest portions of the continent. It rises to a height of forty feet, with a diameter of from fifteen to eighteen inches; it tapers very rapidly from the base up; the wood is ...

Chapter XL. The Deciduous Cypress: Its Ornamental Character, Southern Home, and Dispersed Growth.— Soil Suited to its Growth, and Attainable Height.—Peculiarities of its Growth.—Its Associate Tree.—Description and Properties of its Woo...

Chapter XLI. The American Arbor-VitAe: Its Northern Home.—Its Favorite Soil.—Its Attainable Height and Size.—Uses and Properties of its Wood.—Its Ornamental Advantages.—Manner of Planting Explained.—Its Varieties.—Important Varieties.—Its ...

Chapter XLII. The Yew: The English Yew.—Its Foreign Origin.— Its Famed Longevity.— Its Symbolic Uses.—The Immensity of its Foliage.—Properties and Uses of its Wood.—Its Latitude of Thrift.—American Yew, or Ground Hemlock.—I...

Chapter XLIII. The Box-Tree And Holly: The Box-tree.—Its Foreign Origin.—Its Western Attainments.—Its Usual Height.—Quality, Property, and Uses of its Wood.—Adaptability of its Foliage to Fantastic Designings.—How Propagated.— Winter Prese...

The Holly: There are two varieties of this tree, the American and the European holly. The American holly is found from Maine to Texas, and from Montana on the north to New Mexico on the south; it grows to the...

Chapter XLIV. The Laurel: The American Laurel.—Density of its Growth.—Its Resemblance to the Box.—A Name Derived from its Uses.—Description and Properties of its Wood.—Soil and Climate of Thrift.—Its Seed and Flower Described....

The American Laurel: This shrub grows in such thick and unwieldy masses that it is almost impenetrable, as its thick, unyielding branches interlock with each other; it reaches sometimes to the height of eight or ten feet,...

The Carolina Laurel: This species of laurel is indigenous to the Southern States, and is found in abundance in the maritime districts of Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana. It is an associate of the water oak and r...

Chapter XLV. Timber Trees: List of the most Valuable Timber Trees in the United States, and their Suitable Climate.—Coniferous Trees.—Number of Seeds to the Pound of Each Species. The following is a list of the most valuable...

Chapter XLVI. The Eucalyptus, Or The Fever-Tree: Its Nativity.—When Discovered, and by Whom.—When Introduced into France.—Its Medicinal Qualities, and by Whom Discovered. —Its Antiseptic Properties.—The Healthful Results of its Planting in Malarial ...

The Eucalyptus, Or The Fever-Tree. Continued: Efforts are now being made to introduce this wonderful tree into Ceylon as an antidote to jungle-fever, and it is also being carried over in large numbers to the jungles of India. The English have giv...

Chapter XLVII. The Oak: Its Rank among Trees.—Procuring and Sowing its Seed.—The Burr Oak.—Its Attainable Growth. —Description of the Burr Oak as given by Dr. P. R. Hoy.—Its General Appearance and Beautifying Character.— Dur...

The Burr Oak: The burr oak attains immense size in Indiana and some other Northern States. A gentleman living in Marion County, Indiana, told the writer: The bun-oaks in this neighborhood attain the diameter of si...

The White Oak: This is one of our most lofty trees. It is found almost everywhere east of the Mississippi, although in some sections it is by no means abundant. It is mostly found on soils of moderate fertility. It ...

The Swamp Chestnut Oak: This tree grows to the height of eighty or ninety feet, with a circumference of from six to eight feet, and preserves its thickness from forty to fifty feet. It is found in rich bottom-lands. Rock che...

The Black Oak: This is one of our largest and loftiest tree's, being ninety feet or more in height, and from five to six feet in diameter. Its wood is rather coarse-grained, but possesses considerable strength and d...

Chapter XLVIII. The Berberry: Its Attainable Growth under Culture.—The Common Berberry.—Its Ornamental Value and Manner of Training.—Its Thrift and General Appearance.—Where Indigenous.—Soil Suitable to its Thrift.—Its Floral and ...

Common Berberry: The many species of berberries in a wild state are mere sbrubs, but when cultivated attain considerable elevation, sometimes arriving at the height of thirty feet. The common berberry when raised for ...

Chapter XLIX. The Buckthorn: Its Growth and General Appearance.—Its Floral and Fruit Productiveness.— Medicinal and other Uses of its Berries.— Its Ornamental Value.—Its Suitability as a Hedge-plant.—How Propagated, and Manner of...

Chapter L. The Gordonia: The Woolly-flowered Gordonia.—Its Attainable Height.—Its Southern Nativity.—Its General Appearance Described.— Description and Uses of its Bark and Wood.—Its Botanical Description.—Its Agreeable Flora...

The Woollt-Flowered Gordonia: This is a sub-evergreen tree, and attains the height of from fifty to sixty feet, with a diameter of stem eighteen or twenty inches. It is a native of low latitudes, and appears to be confined to the ...

Chapter LI. The Pride Of India: Its Climate of Thrift, and Attainable Growth.—Its Beautifying and Ornamental Elegance.—Its Diffused Existence.—Opinions as to its Nativity.—How Propagated and Manner of Culture.—Its Favorite Soil.—Des...

Chapter LII. The Mahogany-Tree: Where Indigenous.—Its Primitive Nativity.—Its General Physique Described.— Its Floral Productiveness.—Peculiarity of its Seed.—A Reason for its Dispersed Existence.—Season of Felling.—Varieties, and R...

Chapter LIII. Grape-Vines: The American Wild Vine.—Attention Paid to its Classification.—Distinctive Characteristics of Species.—Delicacy of their Habit.—Traits of Good Quality of the Grape-vine.—Where Indigenous.—Its General B...

The American Wild Vine: The classifying of the many species of the grape-vine has, of late years, been given much attention, and the distinctive characteristics of each studied and published for pubic reading, so as to induc...

The Isabella Grape-Vine: The Isabella grape variety possesses great vigor of growth and is an abundant fruit-bearer. It flourishes as far north as New York, and produces large, dark-purple, juicy berries of an oval form and m...

The Catawba Grape: This vine was originally obtained from the banks of the Catawba River, and is an abundant fruit-producer. Its berries are large, and occur in loose bunches of a beautiful appearance, varying in color ...

The Carolina Grape: This variety is esteemed as a table fruit. Its berries are large, of an oblate form, pale-red color, sweet, pleasant-flavored, and juicy. The original vine is said to have been found on the eastern co...

Chapter LIV. The Common Apple-Tree: Diffusion of the Common Apple-tree.—Period of Cultivation in the United States.—Its Original Nativity.—Its Wild Thrift and General Deportment.—The Many Varieties of its Parentage.— Hinder-ances to its...

Chapter LV. The Golden Orange-Tree: Doubts of the Nativity of the Golden Orange-tree.—Its Believed Origin.—Where Abounding in the United States, and by Whom Introduced.—Record of its Early Notice.—Its Attainable Height under Culture. —I...

Chapter LVI. Propagation Of Trees: Propagating.—Contrast of Theory and Practical Knowledge.—Methods of Propagating.—Varieties from Original Species, How Produced.—Seeding.—Time and Manner of Sowing, with Necessary Considerations.—Prepa...

Seeding: Raising trees from seed requires more care and attention than persons unacquainted with their growth are inclined to consider. The leading thought of inexperience is that nature supplies every want fo...

Cuttings: Propagating from cuttings is the mode employed in the production of certain species of trees, and when seed of other kinds cannot be readily obtained cuttings are used in their production. Though cutt...

Layering: The method of layering has been obtained by observation of nature's growth, and has been established upon the fact of reproduction by the emission of roots from branches inserted in earth, under the s...

Budding: Budding is performed by the transfer of a bud of one tree to the stem or branch of another, generally members of the same genus; though in some species exceptions exist which do not allow of this assi...

Geafting: The grafting methods have been long practised and are at present the most commonly used in propagating trees, especially fruit-bearing varieties. Though of old origin, yet they would seem to be not ge...

Pruning: The benefit of pruning forest-trees is more lightly thought of than it deserves. Upon this operation depends the healthy thrift of all members of the growth acted on, as well as its future deportment ...

Chapter LVII. On Planting: What to Plant.—Preparation of the Soil.—Influence of Soil, Situation, and Climate on Certain Species. — Dr. John A. Warden's Facts in Connection with Tree-planting. — Congenial Soil of Species.— On Na...

On Planting. Continued: In planting for shelter use any or some of the many trees at your command, and plant them where they will produce the desired protection. For field wind-breaks the leafless trees have much value, and ...

Tree Nurses: Nurses are surplus trees or shrubs introduced into the plantation for a temporary purpose, for the occupancy of the ground, to shelter and protect the permanent plants that are designed to constitute ...

Transplanting Seedlings: The time for- transplanting seedlings is a consideration dependent chiefly upon the thrift which the plants are likely to make in the seed-bed, and upon the dispersion therein; as also upon their kind...

Transplanting Laege Trees: The many efforts to transplant trees of large size, and effect their successful thrift, have met with some instances of failure, owing to the want of due regard to the several requirements which tend ...

Chapter LVIII. The Medicinal Properties Of The Trees Of The United States: The following chapter has been prepared for this work at my request, by Messrs. Parke Davis & Co., manufacturing chemists, of Detroit, Michigan. I was led to solicit the aid of this firm in the prepar...

Arbor-Vitae (Thuja Occidentalis): The leaves or small twigs of this tree are the part used. This drug possesses, to a certain degree, antiperiodic properties, and it has also been used as a remedy in coughs and rheumatism. Within a fe...

Aurantii (Orange): A native of China and India, the orange was thence introduced into Europe, and afterwards transplanted to America during the early history of the country. Various parts of the tree are used in medicin...

Black Haw (Viburnum Prunifolium): This tree-like shrub is conspicuous for the beauty of its foliage and flowers. It has within a few years been advanced to the front rank among remedies employed to prevent miscarriages. Although for a...

Black Oak (Querous Tinctoria): The black oak is one of the loftiest and most majestic trees of the forest. Its bark is strongly astringent, and is largely employed in tanning and dyeing. Its astringent properties suggest its use in...

Broad-Leaved Laurel (Kalmia Latifolia): Broad-leaved Laurel (Kalmia latifolia), known also as mountain laurel, sheep laurel, calico bush, etc. This tree-like shrub is quite an active poison, and should be employed as a medicine with conside...

California Bay Laurel (Oreodaphne Californica): An evergreen tree of considerable size, which is indigenous to California. This tree was first brought to notice as a medicine by Dr. L. Mann, of California, who found it of much value in a variety of...

Trees And Tree-Planting | by James S. Brisbin

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