different varieties, a mixed grove might ultimately be obtained, which would be similar to the natural woodlands of the east. All of the varieties planted save hickory, basswood and black locust germinated this spring, but many of the seedlings were killed by cut-worms while very young. It is thought, however, enough remain ro insure the success of the experiment. The vacant spaces may be replanted this fall. Varieties used: Box elder, white ash, black wild cherry, honey locust, white oak, burr oak, red oak, black walnut, white walnut or butternut, chestnut, hard maple, shell bark hickory and black locust.

The following varieties of seedling trees, in quantities from 200 to 2000, were secured in the spring, and are growing in nursery rows this season. The evergreens were heavily mulched with straw, and have been very successful thus far. They were mostly from four to ten inches high when planted, and have made a growth of from one to three inches. Next spring a forest plantation of five acres will be planted, using the trees which have been grown this season in the nursery.

Varieties.-European larch, yellow birch, black wild cherry, European white birch, box elder, white ash, white elm, cottonwood, soft maple, white walnut, white oak, basswood, Scotch pine, white spruce, Norway spruce, balsam fir, Colorado blue spruce, Douglas spruce, arbor vitae, white pine, red cedar, Black Hills native spruce, Black Hills native pine, hemlock, red pine, gray pine.

EXPERIMENTS IN THE GERMINATION OF FOREST TREE SEEDS.—At the time of planting the forest tree seeds last October, a quantity of seeds of several of the varieties used -principally box elder and native white ash-were mixed with sand, boxed, and exposed on the north side of the main college building until the spring was well advanced when they were planted in nursery rows. The box elder and ash germinated, and I judge all grew. The oaks, walnuts and hickories failed to germinate. I think probably they would have grown had they been planted earlier in the spring.

This spring a number of varieties of seeds, named below, were purchased, but were not delivered until late in April.

They were soaked in cold water twenty-four hours except the locust, on which boiling water was poured. They were then planted by the side of the seeds which were kept in sand over winter. Very few of the soaked seeds germinated, and with the exception of the honey locust, all are now dead. The varieties used were white ash, box elder, sugar maple, blue ash, European ash, black ash, European basswood, American mountain ash, basswood, honey locust, mountain maple, white thorn, choke cherry, black wild cherry.

CUTTINGS.-A barrel of cuttings, of varieties named below, was presented to the department by Mr. James Smith, of Cresbard, Faulk county. They arrived before the ground could be prepared, and were kept in a root cellar. When the ground was in good condition they were soaked in water forty-eight hours, and planted in subsoiled rows. All have grown well save a few which were very thin and weak, having been taken from slender twigs. The varieties planted were laurels, leaved willow, and the following named poplars: Populus certinensis, P. pyramidalis, P. nolester, P. pyramidalis suavolens.

A number of cuttings of the poplars named were stuck along the creek which flows through the college farm, one bend being planted full of them. An examination shows that many buds started but few have lived. The land had never been broken, and the cuttings were stuck just after a heavy rain. The place is now covered with high grass.

NOTES ON THE GROWTH OF TREES IN THE

AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE GROUNDS.

The following notes on the growth of the trees in the Agricultural College grounds are given as showing the action of different varieties under similar conditions. The trees were planted one and two years ago, having been shipped from Lake City, Minn., a town on the Mississippi River. They were placed in what is destined to be the campus; and having been set in irregular groups, with a view to ultimate landscape effect, it was impossible to give them much cultivation. They were carefully planted

liberally mulched with coarse manure, and left with but little care until September last. The campus occupies the summit and slopes of a slight ridge, and being exposed to winds on all sides, the trees were so blown as to make holes at their bases, in many instances as much as six inches deep and three inches in diameter. In September the mulch was removed from the trees and the ground around them was firmly tamped, after which the mulch was replaced and the trees left for the winter.

The soil is the usual black loam of the prairies with compact subsoil of yellow clay, containing a little sand. One crop of wheat had been taken from part of the ground, the remainder having been broken in June, backset in the fall and set to treesjin the spring. The land had been but poorly plowed for the wheat crop, so that the entire plat might be considered new. About the only favorable condition for tree growth was the mulching. The early part of the season was rather dry, but copious rains fell in August, to the great benefit, no doubt, of the trees.

In the notes which follow, the figures given are the result of actual measurements, the longest leader that could be found on any tree of the variety having been measured. In most cases an estimate of average growth is given, this estimate was made after a careful examination of all the trees and may be considered reasonably accurate. The leaves of most of the trees having fallen when this bulletin was prepared, the species of a few sorts could not be definitely determined. In such cases the genus is given, followed by an interrogation point.

Betula alba. White Birch. The trees of this variety, taken as a whole, have made better growth during the past season than any others on the college grounds except white willow. When planted, they averaged not more than four feet in height. The average growth of over thirty trees, located in different parts of the grounds, was more than a foot. The longest leader measured three feet one inch. No apparent difference in growth was observed between the trees on the tops of knolls and those in lower ground. Birch wood is now being used very much in the manufacture of

furniture; a large part of the so called "mahogany finished" furniture being stained birch. The foliage is healthy, and the graceful habit of the tree, with the white bark of its trunk, makes it very ornamental. This, with the commercial value of its timber and its rapidity of growth, should commend it to planters generally.

Betula alba pendula laciniala. Cut Leaved Birch. This is one of the most ornamental trees that will thrive in Dakota. The leaves are deeply cut and the long slender branches are quite pendulous after the trees have attained a height of sixteen feet, more or less. The few trees we have did not make half as much growth as did the white birch. The longest top branch found measured nine inches.

Betula.

? var. fol. purpurea. Purple Leaved Birch. A number of small specimens, budded a foot from the ground on a dwarf species-probably B. nana—have made scarcely any growth during the season, the beautifully tinted foliage not being able to stand the dry weather of this region. It cannot be recommended.

Alnus glutinosa.(?) Alder. A dozen or more alders in the college grounds passed through the last severe winter without injury, and made a fair growth the past season several trees showing new wood ten inches long. One leader measured one foot three inches in length. The alder is a fine ornamental tree with foliage somewhat resembling the small leaves of the hazlenut. It seldom exceeds thirty-five feet in height and its wood is not particularly useful; for lawn planting, however, it should prove a valuable sort.

Negundo aceroides. Box Elder. This is one of the varieties most largely used in the planting of tree claims. The trees on the college grounds did not make a great growth last year, the longest shoot found measuring two feet two inches, while the average growth would hardly exceed ten inches. The species has made a remarkablerecord under cultivation, and our specimens, while they have not equaled the white birch in growth the past season, have been healthy and are evidently in good con

dition for work next spring. The box elder is probably the toughest of the soft wooded, rapid growing trees, and for this reason it would make good live fence posts.

Acer dasycarpum. Silver Leaf or Soft Maple. Only a few trees of this kind have made a good growth this year, most of them showing little more than a tuft of leaves. One had a leader two feet three inches long, but this was exceptional. The soft maple cannot be recommended for prairie culture because the wood is not tough enough to withstand the heavy winds. Its timber is no more valuable for farm uses than box elder, which will give greater satisfaction to the planter.

Acer ? var laciniata. Cut Leaf Maple. This unique nariety of soft maple has made a growth of five inches the past summer. The leaves are smaller than in silver maple and deeply cut, the lobes being divided and pointed. If it prove hearty it will be a valuable lawn tree.

Pyrus Americana. American Mountain Ash. The trees of this sort have grown well and been free from blight the past season, several branches being found which measured one foot six inches in length. The trees do not show any injury from freezing. The beautiful compound leaves and the clusters of brilliant red berries of this species make it a most desirable variety for the lawn.

Pyrus ària. Wheat Beam Tree. Like the mountain ash, which it resembles, this is an ornamental tree of great beauty. Its leaves are darker and thicker than those of the mountain ash, and they are lobed or cleft rather than divided; the tree is also a more upright grower. A leader was found which was nine inches long, and the average growth was but little less. Some of the trees blighted badly; a very grave fault in an ornamental sort. Aside from blight, it is a question whether the mountain ash or the white beam tree is perfectly hardy.

Fraxinus Americana.

White Ash. This variety has
Only one tree of

grown but little during the past season.

the hundred or more living in our grounds shows even a

moderate growth; the year's growth consisted of a mere tuft of