T3be Conservative.
ore required to shade- the trunk dnriiig
the hottest part of the day , to prevent
blistering the bark and permanent in
jury to the tree.
In early spring of 1891 , and every
winter since , the circumferences of 88
white pine trees were measured to as
certain the annual growth. The trees
were of ages from 20 to 50 years ; the
average ago was 86. Tack nails wore
driven into the trunks about five feet
from the ground to ensure measuring at
the same place each year. The measure
ments show that the average gain in
circumference of the 88 trees was as
follows :
1891 1892 18915 1894 1895 189(5 ( 1897
.68 .91 1.25 1.19 1.08 1.11 1.17
inch , inch. inch. inch. inch. inch. inch.
Per centago of gain , taking 1891 as
100.
100 185 184 170 152 168 172
Probably the gain over 1891 should be
reduced 20 per cent because the annual
growth of white pine trees varies much
with the seasons , and from an examin
ation of many of the trees , and trees on
other woodlands , it appears that the
upward growth of white pine was above
the average of the last twelve years in
1890 , 1894 , 1896 and 1897 , and was be
low the average in 1891 and 1895.
The average growth of the88 trees
in seven years was 7 % inches in circum
ference or 2 inches in diameter.
The largest circumference growths
of single trees in the seven years were
11.25 , 11.5 , 11.25 , 9.5 and 9.25 inches , of
respective ages in 1891 of 80 , 42 , 80 , 26
and 83 years. All these five trees are
standing in places where the slope of
the surface of the ground was favorable
for carrying surface drainage to the
roots , and are but little shaded by other
trees.
The smallest circumference growths
made in seven years by single trees
were 8 , 8 , 3.75 , 4.25 , and 4.5 inches , of
respective ages in 1891 of 35 , 85 , 49 , 85 ,
85 years.
These five trees are all btanding on
slopes tending to carry surface water
away from the roots , and are more
shaded than the five trees showing the
greatest growth. The rapid increase in
grouch after the first year may be
mostly due to the removal of the oak
trees , giving more air and more light
and warmth from the sun , and leaving
less foliage to consume the moisture
of the ground.
As the work could not bo done in the
best way by contract , it was paid for by
the hour. The cutting , drawing to
gether the scattering wood and cording
it , cost what the wood sold for , namely ,
$2 to $2.25 per cord'on the lot. The
cost of removing stumps in new roads
and mowing the bushes every year until
lulled has been $50. Cost of trimming
to December , 1897 , has been $40.
Sprouts have been broken off from as
much as half the lot , which , with the
imbs from the oaks , and the trimmings
of the pine , have been burned and the
ashes scattered around , at a cost of $100.
As the different kinds of work have
sometimes boon carried on together , the
cost of each is only approximately
correct.
The average age of the 88 white pine
trees in 1891 was 86 years.
The average gain in seven years in
area of horizontal section five feet
from the ground was 88.7 per cent.
The greatest gain in any tree in any
area of section was tree No. 21 , 82 years
old , 109 square inches , or 55 per cent , a
full top tree at the foot of a southerly
slope.
The least gain in any tree in area of
section was tree No. 6 , 35 years old , 20
square inches , or 18 per cent , situated
on a ridge on a northerly slope.
The largest per cent of growth in any
tree in seven years was 85 per cent.
The smallest per cent of growth in
any tree in seven years was 18 per cent.
It seems reasonable to assume that
the increase in height and in length of
limbs would add enough to the increase
found in sectional area to make the in
crease in wood growth in seven years
50 per cent , or half as much as had
grown in the first 86 years.
Assuming that the growth of these
88 trees was not above the average
growth of all the pine trees on the lot ,
for every 100 cords of standing wood
in 1891 there are now 150 cords , an an
nual gain of about 7 per cent.
Trees 10 to 25 years old appear to
have made an average gain in woody
growth of more than 100 per cent in
seven years.
The amount of timber in trees varies
as the square of the diameter of the
trunk and the length of the log. For
example , a tree two feet in diameter
has four times as much timber as a
tree one foot in diameter of the same
length of cut. A tree three feet in di
ameter has nine times as much timber
as a tree one foot in diameter of the
same length ; but the tree three feet in
diameter , I assume , would cut twice
the length of log , and therefore produce
eighteen times as much timber as the
tree one foot in diameter. The larger
and older the tree up to its maturity ,
the larger is the proportion of heart
wood , and also of clear stock , if the
tree has been properly trimmed when
young , and therein is its value as mer
chandise largely increased.
The old oak growth on the lot is
mostly gone. The tract is transformed
into a beautiful pine grove with an
undergrowth of young pines giving
promise of a forest of great value in
years to come.
I will be pleased to show the grounds
to all persons interested in the growth
of white pine.
GKINNKLL'S INDIAN TALKS.
An Indian agent has absolute control
of affairs on his reservation , subject only
to the approval of
of un the department of
Indian
the i n t e r ior at
Washington , which two or three times a
year may send out an inspector to look
after him , says George Bird Grinnell in
the February Atlantic. His position is
one of great responsibility , for he has to
administer a business representing each
year from $50,000 to $200,000. His
power on the reservation is more nearly
absolute than anything that we in this
country know of. He has not the auth
ority to order out his Indians to instant
execution , but in practice this is the only
power that he does not possess. Over
property , liberty , and the actions of
overy-day life he has absolute authority.
No Indian can receive food , no Indian
can obtain a tool , no Indian can live in
his home , unless the agent is willing.
He holds in the hollow of his hand the
welfare of the tribe and of each one of its
individuals.
The man who bears these responsibili
ties and is clothed with these powers
over his fellow men should be of high
character and good abilities , such an one
as would be chosen for the manager of a
considerable business. He should feel
the responsibility of his position , and not
bo satisfied merely to get along as
easily as possible and to draw his salary
regularly. The good agent really stands
in the relation of a parent toward his
Indians , and as a father instructs , pun
ishes and rewards his children , bo the
agent should firmly but kindly govern
the people who are under him. They
recognize this relation , and often speak
of the agent as their father. In the ord
inary pursuits of life a man qualified by
training and temperament for such a
position would receive a good salary ; he
ought to receive it here , at least thrice
the pittance that is now paid to Indian
agents. Such a man ought to be re
tained in office so long as he would re
main , and should not be turned out
with the coming in of each new admin
istration.
It is not many years ago when I was
present at a reservation in the Indian
Territory , when a
Indians
commsson w a s
Arc Cheated. . . .
negotiating w 1 1 h
the Indians to induce them to take their
lands in severally , and to sell the sur
plus. The commissioners made no
secret of the fact that the administration
had ux-ged them to carry through the
sale , because at the next election they
wished to go before the people with the
statement that they had thrown open to
settlement by the public a certain num-
