The Kanzas news., 1858-03-06
Trees on the Prairies.


exists, or will exist at an early date, a great
scarcity of timber for all purposes, the i'm
Iportance of our subject will be seen in its
true ght. At the east, the never satisfied
appetite of stove, and every day the supply
is lessening and the demand increasing At
the west new fires are constantly being kin
died, and the stinted growth of timber is
falling rapidly.
The question of growing timber FOR shell
ter and fuel must be shortly forced upon us.
Why not anticipate its actual coming, ''per
force" few years, and consider the only
means by which we may evade dire effects?
The growing of timber for present use, as
shelter, is a present pressing necessity. It
Is felt in winter, when the mercury is down
score or more degrees below zero. 1t is
felt in winter when the wind hoWls over the
prairie like the avenging spirit of winged
demon, the herds and focks fleeing before
it to the grove from their offered food like
| frightened lambs before famished wolves
1t Is felt when, upon entering the grove,
the storm beaten traveller notes the milder
temperature. A subject of more Importance
to half the United States could not be
chosen.
Bleak, cheerless, treeless, and uninviting,
homeseekers' vision. How often he repeats,
"Oh, if here only was little grove of tim
Der to protect, with its shade in summer,
and shield from the winds of winter, could
be content--yea would be glad to build my
home" Any aid which can be given to
overcome such inconvenience as these, can
home builders of the west. We have made
q, ~, Al e
overcoming it the subject of study for the
last year, and will now proceed TO give the
result of our inquiries and experience.
The first thing to be observed in growing
timber on the prairies is to prevent the an
nual visit of fire, so common in autumn and
early spring. Soon after the fire ceases,
different varieties of timber early spring up,
and makes usually rapid growth. But it
is from artificial means we hope for the most
in growing timber. And of these we con-
slider propagation by cuttings the most ex-
peditious and certain mode. Of these the
Golden Willow and Cottonwood, natives of
every prairie grove, and the rapid-growing
Poplar-always keeping pace with civiliza-
tion--are quick growing and easily propa-
gated varieties, suited ior either shelter, or
nament or fuel. They grow well from cut
tings. and are as early propagated as the cur
rant. They will make growth of two feet
in circumference in from six to eight years,
and the willow throws out an enormous
branching top.
The poplar is a tree frequently found
growing about old homesteads at the East.
1t makes very rapid growth-is clothed
with limbs from near the ground to the top,
which shoot out from the trunk unlike the
branches of other trees, keeping close to the
parent trunk, and frequently seen dead and
living, interspersed all along up the tree
The trunk maintains its size to a considera-
BILE height, apparently little diminished by
loss from branches. 1t grows readily from
cuttings, and I have seen good sheltering
fence grown of it which had been stuck but
few years.
We wish we could urge upon every prai
rie farmer the importance of planting, con-
tinually planting, or sticking down slips or
cuttings of these trees. In addition to these
the locust is an important tree, and its wood
is second to none other grown in our cli-
mate. Every western farmer should gather
literally of the seeds of this tree, and scat
ter them with no sparing hand. They grow
readily, and but few years are needed to
produce grove of locust trees large enough
for fence posts and fuel.
The black walnut is another variety
worthy the attention of farmers, and they
should seek to grow these valuable trees,
not only for pleasure but clear profit. They
grow vigorously in favorable locations, and
the fruit with which they are annually laden
is good argument, if none other existed,
why they should be grown. Other trees
there are deserving of attention, but none
of them so rapid in growth, and so easily
cultivated as the first named in this article.
We have not yet said enough of our ia
vorites of the list above given, viz: the
willow, the cottonwood and the poplar. We
fear that any variety of timber not easily
and rapidly grown will fail to meet with that
attention which that subject demands
Hence we again speak of cuttings, and urge
upon every farmer the growing of these by
the roadside, in the efeldsides-every1he
where man passes, or where he or the brute
creation may want it for shelter or fuel
For ornament the two first named above,
when grown from cuttings, with plenty of
room, are second to few much more ap-
plauded trees.
Plant them, or rather stick them, with a
crow-bar and mallet, about your cattle
yards, your lawns, and your line fences
Stick them where it is too dry to grow grain
and too wet to grow grass. Stick them
anywhere and everywhere, only so you keep
multiplying their number, and Fastening
the 'sgood time coming" when we shall
have the prairie dotted with the eye-glad-
dening sight of growing trees, and these
shall be unlimited evidence, increasing with
each rolling year, that we are in earnest In
the work of planting trees.
i JEo. SAEFIELD.
Out West, Nov 96, 1857.
An impertinent editor. in Alabama, wants