Box 22, Folder 8: Trees of Wisconsin 1859, 1867

202. Wisconsin Agriculture.

-ly of ordinary size could therefore be supplied from ten acres of timber without diminution of the quantity on the land. By selecting always, for removal, the poorest and least thrifty trees, and by a proper care of the remainder even a less number of acres may be made to afford this supply. Almost every farmer has on his grounds at least this amount of land over the quantity which he wishes to cultivate annually in crops; and by planting it to trees he may be securing to himself and his posterity quietly and gradually numerous blessings.

If our several Railroad Companies could be made to see their true interest and act upon it, they would immediately plant rows of trees and a hedge along both sides of their roads. These by their growth would save the cost of fencing and supply the ties and timber that will very soon be wanted to repair and to renew their structure. Different kinds of trees should be selected to suit the different qualities of soil. What a beautiful feature this would give to the landscape! It would afford shelter and shade to the trains. The trees and hedges might be so disposed as to keep off the bleak winds in winter and prevent in a great degree those accumulations of snow that now so often stop the trains.

The Illinois Central Railroad Company have contracted for the planting of three rows of locust trees on each side of the Illinois Central Railroad for the distance of one hundred and twenty miles. The rows are to be set eight feet apart, and the trees three feet apart from each other. In eight years, it is said, the trees will furnish ties in place of those which have become rotten. They will also furnish a delightful shade in summer, and a protection from the snow drifts in winter.

Upon the completion of our several lines of Railroads, when the officers shall have time to think of other things besides the first construction, it is hoped that greater attention will be given to this subject.

That the great forests of Wisconsin are rapidly disappearing will be quite evident to any one who will reflect a moment upon the vast amount of wood annually consumed for fuel by the people for domestic purposes, by the railroad locomotive, and by

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the steam engines scattered over the State; for lumber to supply our own demand and for exportation, and for the thousand other purposes to which wood is annually applied. The rapid increase of population is constantly augmenting this draft upon the forests. Already vast quantities of lumber and fuel are annually exported to Illinois; and very soon, as her population increases and her railroad facilities are perfected, Minnesota will call upon us with heavy demands for lumber to enable her to populate her prairies and thinly timbered districts.

The immense lumbering establishments on our rivers are annually converting large numbers of the magnificent pine trees-the growth perhaps of centuries-into a marketable form for consumption and exportation,-one of these establishments yielding no less than twenty millions of feet of lumber per annum.

It is much to be regretted that the very superabundance of trees in our State should destroy, in some degree, our veneration for them. They are looked upon as cumberers of the ground, and the question is not how shall they be destroyed. Place a few of our noble oaks, or elegant elms, or majestic [firs?] firs in any of the older countries, and they would be looked upon as one of their finest ornaments. The Great Elm on Boston Common is venerated by old and young; the aid of iron bars has been invoked by Mayor Smith, to protect it from harm; and books have been written to preserve its history. The loss of an oak tree lately, in Connecticut, sent a thrill of regret throughout the land.

It happens that the trees of Wisconsin all belong to one division of the vegetable kingdom; that division which includes plants that grow by the deposit of an external layer of wood annually-hence called Exogens, or outside-growers. They are of two kinds; Angiosperms, having seeds inclosed in a capsule or fruit, which in germination present two cotyledons, or seed lobes; and Gymnosperms, having the seeds naked in an open scale, the cotyledons mostly more than two. This last kind includes only one family, the Conifereae, or Pine Family, which is mostly evergreen, while the Angiosperms of our State are all deciduous.

204. Wisconsin Agriculture.

The Gymnosperms or plants having proper seed vessels are arranged under three general heads. Under the first are placed those having the corolla or flower-like leaves consisting of more than one petal, which is the case with the bass-wood, maples, locust, cherry, and plum trees.

The next division includes such as have the corolla of but one petal, of which the Ash is our only arborescent example.

The third division includes such as have no petals; like the Elm, Sycamore, Walnut, Oak, Birch, Willow, and Poplar.

All plants are arranged in recent botanical works into natural groups called Orders or Families, in which those species most resembling each other in essential characters are brought together. This method of classification is, on many accounts, far superior to the artificial classes and orders of Linnaeus, where the number, situation, &c., of the stamens in the flowers were alone considered, and plants of the most opposite characters were brought together into the same class. As it seems important that all should understand this natural and convenient arrangement of plants it has been adopted here. It will be found as convenient for all purposes as any that could have been adopted, and at the same time conforms, as near as can be, with the system of nature herself.

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Division I,-Polypetalous.

Order I. Tiliaceae.-The Linden Family.

1. Tilia Americana, of Linnaeus.-Common Basswood.

There is but one kind of Basswood found in Wisconsin.-It is a very common tree in the thickly wooded parts of the State, especially where the soil is a little moist and rich. Where the basswood is found growing plentifully in the woods the farmer need not hesitate to make his "location", for the tree is a sure indication of a good soil. It shows a strong disposition to grow in little groups of three or more together, which may be account

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-ed for on the supposition that a former tree has been destroyed, and that the present clump is the grown up sprouts that always succeed such destruction.

Although the wood is soft, destitute of strength and durability, and has but little value as fuel, it is well suited for many useful purposes. It splits easily into rails, and will last a long time if not used for those that lie on the ground. Basswood is extensively used for laths, and it is the material for carving wood and for wooden shoes. As an ornamental tree it has few superiors, especially where regularity of form, density of shade, etc., are desirable. This is the case along side walks in our cities, towns, and villages, where, however, we but seldom see this tree. The fine fragrance of the flowers and great rapidity of growth are other recommendations of this tree for such purpose. The very curious contrivance by which the seeds are held up in the air so as to afford the wind an opportunity to waft them a considerable distance before they reach the ground is worthy of notice.

The fruit stalk hangs from middle of a long narrow leaf, has a kind of spiral twist, like a plow-shire; so that in falling, this leaf is constantly whirling round and round like the arms of a boy's wind mill, which very much retards the fall to the ground. This is another of those beautiful contrivances by which the great Creator accomplishes his all wise purposes. Such contrivances might be found every where in nature, if we would take the trouble to look for them. When the eastern counties of Wisconsin began to be settled twenty years ago, and when of course the resources of the country had been but very little developed, resort was had to the basswood trees to sustain the

206. Wisconsin Agriculture.

stock through the long winter months. Great numbers of fine large trees were cut down for no other purpose than to afford a bite for the cows and oxen. The tender branches and the mucilaginous buds are excellent for this purpose. It is said that in some countries the leaves are annually gathered for fodder, as regularly as we make hay for the same purposes.

There are other genera and quite a number of species belonging to this family, but Tilia is the only genus found in our climate and latitude; all the others belong to the more southern climes. There are four species of Basswood in the United States, one of which (T. heterophylla, Vent) is found growing naturally in the rich bottom lands in the Ohio river valley. This species, with the leaves white and downy beneath, is larger and more ornamental than the common Basswood, and should be introduced among our ornamental trees. As it grows so near us it would doubtless do very well in Wisconsin.

Order II. Sapindaceae-The Sopeberry Family.

Under this Family botanists now arrange the Maples (Acerinear), as a section or sub-order.

2. Acer Pennsylvanicum, of Linnaeus.-Striped Maple.

The Striped Maple is so called on account of the dark stripes or lines on the bright green bark.

The racemes of flowers are drooping, and loose. In other respects, this small and slender tree resembles the Mountain Maple. It is found in the vicinity of Lake Superior, and will undoubtedly be detected within our State, when the natural productions of the interior and northern counties come to be examined. This tree is often called Moose-wood-the young branches being eaten (in winter especially), by the Moose. It would make a most beautiful ornament in any of our yards and gardens.

3. Acer Spicatum, of Lamarck.-Mountain Maple.

The Mountain Maple, is so small as hardly to deserve the name of a tree. It grows about wet, springy places on hill sides,