ARBORICULTURE (ante). The wholesale destruction of forests in the United States long ago attracted attention in the older states, and measures have been taken to remedy and counteract the evil. The most efficient of these is A., which is now well developed in the eastern, middle, northern, and western states. It is estimated that, even in New York, timber has been destroyed at the rate of 150,000 acres per year, most of the wood going for railroad-fuel and building. Landowners, however, are growing more careful, and the young trees, once grubbed out as worthless brush, are now very gener ally not only spared but nursed. The ordinary process with natural growth is to exclude browsing cattle, and then thin out, taking the crooked and damaged first, and next such as will make hoop poles, hay stakes, etc. The timber left will grow more rapidly and will be more handsome and valuable than a full natural growth. With care, the grow ing trees may be grouped in lines, and ample wagon roads be left for ease of communi cation with highways or other fields. Raising trees from seed takes more time and care, but will furnish better timber and larger profit. In this practice the ground is pre pared as if for corn, and the seed sown by hand or drill in hills or rows. For a Year or
two, corn and trees may grow in alternate rows, if desirable to get immediate proht from the land. Large seeds, like chestnuts and walnuts, are planted about three or four times their own diameter below the surface. Evergreen seedings must be shaded through the first summer, removing the shade occasionally that the plants may be hardened. Not much is done in the way of transplanting in the older states, except for parks and orna mental purposes. In Minnesota and other western states, the successful culture of trees is accepted in lieu of certain taxes, and millions of trees are transplanted annually. It is important to preserve old or raise new trees in thick belts or ranks for the protection of houses, crops, and cattle, against heavy winds and storms. Such protection often saves the half or nearly the whole of winter grain. Where such belts should be planted depends upon the situation of the farm with reference to the prevailing direction of the winds. Simply for ornamentation, A. is largely practiced, and is growing in import ance, and men of knowledge and experience are employed for the purpose in public and private parks and cemeteries.