Nebraska advertiser., 1859-03-10


the demands of,its constitution. We can
not wonder at the multitude of failures
and disappointments that are annually re-
corded through our agricultural press, IN
regard to the growth and success Of trees
and plants, when we reflect how little
plant-life has been studied by many of
those who now ask in the country happ-
ier home than the city can supply. Let
us more hopefully than ever before, with
increased knowledge of the requirements
of trees, proceed to plant them nationally,
cultivate them as thoroughly as we feel
they should be cultivated, and we have no
fear that the generous soil and the balnly
airs of heaven, will blight our prospect.
of a moderate return. ,
To plant tree is to place It in, a con-
dition to live, to increase IN size and yigor
until its system of wood and leaves shall
have become developed, and if fruit
bearing tree, until it shall have borne its
fruit and seeds. Nature has designed so
much for it to accomplish. This design
may be frustrated. The soil In which
the tree is to grow, requires attention,
modification, preparation. The spontane-
Gus growth of the forest must be hewn
down, that we may raise a ten-fold
amount of food by our reason and intell-
gence. We seek in other lands and eli
mates, for fruits and esculents esteemed
greater Injuries than those indigenous
here, and we proceed to adapt our soil to
their growth and development. We must
first learn the elements Of plant-life, then
the substances which support vegetable
existence. Our operations are necessari-
ly the result of civilation; we seek TO har.
monize the objects around Us with our
lives, and enter upon an artificial system
OF culture. We experiment as we pro-
ceed-experiments are not always profit
able, indeed rarely so. Let us not then
rspine, if we do not in the first harvest
time after sowing our first seeds, reap an
hundred fold. Patience is a virtue.
Certain trees and plants succeed more
or less satisfactorily on certain soils. We
must work with this consideration in view.
, We do not hope to have as luxuriant will
, lows, or white poplars on the sandy hill
top, as we should find in the moist and
, marshy bottom. A limited number Of
trees are not particularly attached 10 anv
/ particular soil, location, or climate; these
! are the trees that we may expect TO ind
scattered abroad in the greatest profuslon.
/ There are a few species of oak that are
pretty generally distributed over'the coun.
; try. The silver and red maple are not
! peculiarly local, nor is the white or Amer
lcan elm, the white wood, or button ball.
Yet these, our familiar trees, do luxuri-
r ate much more vigorously in certain soils,
} and localities, are less subject to disease
or insect attacks. In selecting trees to
plant, we cannot choose in many cases,
those we know are best suited to our soil,
because they may not suit our taste and
J purpose. Again, the trees that would
suit US may not be within our reach. Yet,
by general observation of the arboricul.
t ture of our vicinity, we cannot help coming
! to the conclusion that few leading forms
prevail IN certain districts. Some species
J are to be found everywhere. As ever.
! green trees, we would instance the Nor
way Spruce and Balsam Fir. And as
| deciduOus trees, the Silver and Sugar
! Maple, American Elm and Weeping
Willow. The result is. that these few
leading forms become so familiar that ey.
: cry one has them, and fashionable people
begin TO look upon them as common.-
: Pity that such grand object as spread.
: ing elm, should ever be designated a:
4 common-that the graceful weeping willow
B, should grow less graceful, because withir
: The view Of the city plodder.