The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1854-01-26
Raising Forest Trees from Seeds.


One of our subscribers requests us to
furnish instructions for raising Chestnut,
Walnut, and Locust trees from SEEDS
This subject of much Importance to set
tiers in prairie countries; and even in
many parts of Ohio, it would be well if
farmers would plant few acres of their
grounds with forest trees for the prospec-
tive wants of their children, if not for
their own benefit. In some parts of the
State there is already quite scarcity of
timber for fencing and building purposes
as well as for fuel, and good woodland is
worth more per acre than that under cul-
tivation.
The first thing demanding on the part
Of those intending to plant forest seeds,
is to select snch kinds of trees are best
aapted tdo their soil. Much has been
wasted by neglecting this precaution; and
all the instructions we have been in books
and papers in ragard to this business
have been defective on this point. 1t has
been stated, for instance, that chestnuts
can be raised with the greatest ease from
seed; and many farmers have been in
duced to try the experiment, but have
very generally failed because their soil
was not of the right kind.
Il deep, sandy and dry soil is requisite
for the successful growth of the chestnut;
and it is vain to attempt to make it thrive
on soils of an opposite character, as
We. know from repeated experiments
The Black Walnut and Butternut thrive
best in deep, very rich, clayey, and
gravelly loan, or what is commonly known
as deep limestone soils. The same kind
Of soil is best suited for the Sugar Maple;
but this tree will flourish on greater va
riety of soils, and requires less depth than
the walnut.
The Hickory will bear strong clay
soil, better than most other trees except
Beech. Neither of these are well adap-
ted to the rich mucky or sandy soils of the
prairies. The Oak, in some of it's yarie-
ties, will flourish on most good soils, not
too wet or mucky but is of too slow growth
for our fast people. The Locust on ac-
count of rapid growth, valuable timber,
and adaptability to various soils, is per-
haps the most useful of all-but unfor-
tunately it is SO liable to be destroyed by
the borer, that it cannot be relied on in
many parts of the country.
Saving and sowang seed-Chestnuts,
Walnuts and similar kinds Of tree seeds
should never be suffered to become per-
fectly dry before planting. If not con-
venient to plant them soon after their
time of ripening, they should be put in a
box of sand, and kept moist, (not wet, }
and be allowed to freeze during winter,
then planted early in the spring, covering
them about two inches in depth. They
may be planted where the trees are to re-
main, taking care to keep the plants clear
OF weeds and grass while young; or, they
can be transplanted when 2 or years
old, taking them up carefully, without in
juring the roots, and not exposing them to
drying while out Of the ground.
Locust seed may be kept dry, for year
or two, without destroying its vitality,
but it must in all cases be thoroughly
scalded before sowing, or it will lie whole
year in the ground without negotiating.
For quart Of seed, pour on quarts of
boiling water, and let stand for IL or "a
hours, when most, if not all of the seeds
will be swollen to several times their for
mer size. If considerable portion are
not swollen, they must be scalded again.
Stir the seeds while in the water, so as to
agitate them briskly, and while in motion
pour off the water and swollen seeds,
while the others being heavier, will re-
main at the bottom of the vessel, then
scald, and let soak as before and they will
generally all swell. The seeds can then
be sown where designed to remain, or in
nursery bed, and the trees transplanted
when one year old.-O. Ctzlt;vdaoy.