The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-07-22
Forest Trees,


Our country has been, and is still through
extensive tracts, SO densely covered with wood
that but little thought has hitherto been be-
slowed upon the subject OF cultivatng forest
trees to keep up the supply Of timber for build
| ing purposes and for the mechanic arts. But
timber of all kinds, and especially frewood
have recently become much enhanced in value
in comparatively well-timbered portions of our
country; while in the West there are i'm
mense tracts of the most fertile prairie land
which are almost entirely destitute of timber.
This absence of timber has been accounted for
by the Indian practice of annually burning the
praries as it is found that timber springs up
rapidly when it is planted and protected by
ploughing from the prairie fires. Such being
the case, all information in regard to the cult
walton of forest trees is Of interest; and with
this view we publish the following, which we
find in late number Of the Galena I'll. Id
oertiser. We doubt not that not only locust
seed, but acorns, chestnuts, and other tree seeds
might be planted, and the young trees cultva-
ted with profit to those engaged in such bu-
siness.
=" TREES FoR FENcE.-A great portion Of this
State, particularly the prairie lands as well as
those of Wisconsin, Iowa. and the northwest, are
not sufficiently supplied with timber to meet the
wants of dense settlement. Prairie lands, kept
free from fires, which the Indians and the earlier
settlers in the habit of annually setting, are
gradually covered by growth of hard wood
timber but the process is SLOW and the ncreas-
ing value of the land and the demand for timber
|
considered remunerating business to plant arti.
fetal forests, particularly of those trees which grow
quick and of early value on account of their
lasting qualities, and the they can be put to-,
from the fifth to the tenth year and later for fenc
ing purposes. We refer to the locust and chestnut
''Some of the largest fortunes the English no.
bty have been realized from forests planted by
their ancestors. Lands which were comparatively
bare, and Of of little value half n century
since, were enclosed and planted with timber
trees, and are now furnishing of the finest
lumber in the world, and, at the same time, the
richest grazing for cattle. If such the results
the barren heaths of the north'of England. what
might not be raised on rich and rolling prai-
ries; and if not large profits obtained, GER
tanly nobler trees would be produced in less than
half the time. These remarks have been suggest
ed to us by an article in the Prairie Farmer for
July; and, as the season for gathering the locust
seed approaches, give the directions for sowing
an4planting:
1.-The mode of managing locust seed is very sim
pie Gather it before the seed shells out, after
it is ripe. 1T may be sown in May or not till the
middle of June, even later, if the earth should
not become too dry. Pour over the seeds guam
tity of boiling water sufficient to them
ply, and let them stand till the water is cold. Then
sow, either in seed beds in the field where they
to stand. In either it is beat to SOW in
drills, and the plants should be cultivated in the
same manner corn for one two years, or till
they arc sufficiently large to ovsrgrow the weeds
Any good corn soil is suitable In five years stakes
may be cut, and in eight ten years they will be
large enough for posts.'