Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-12-12

Mr.. EDIToR:-I suppose the friends and
everybody interested in education, would like
to know something about the large endow-
ment for the better advancement Of educa-
ton Of the laboring classes of our State.
believe that Iowa is peculiarly fortunate
in getting this land at this time, although the
proceeds from wild lands must be very low
for some years to come, yet under the embar-
rasslng circumstances, we can make it sufi-
cient to support our institution, if not more,
for the quantity, as has been stated before, is
1000 acres of Government lands, which are
held at one dollar and twenty five cents per
acre. But where the railroad grants have
been located, the Government has doubled
the price of the remaining lands, and in these
locations we are to take only half the guam
tity; so l suppose when Jour selections are
finished, we shall have less than 100000
acres.
have been informed by our Commissioner,
Mr.. Melendy-who is now out selecting these
lands-th,t he had selected about 100000
acres in the Sioux City District, and expected
to select 100, 900 acres more in the Fl Dodge
District, and the balance in Des Moines Dis
trict- making the deductions for double priced
lands.
am informed that, to the Northeast of
Sioux City, there are counties with but very
little timber, and large tracts Of very level,
smoothe, dry and fertile prairie, a vast of
table land. This beautiful country only lacks
timber to make it as valuable an Agricultural
country as any in our State, except it is re-
mote from market But the Dubuque and
Sioux City R. R. is progressing as rapidly as
any in the State.
think it would be most noble enterprise
to plant timber groves on some of these
prairie lands. For instance, if we had
Township, or nearly so, in body, where the
ravines would not interfere too much, l
would lay off roads east and west through it,
two miles apart Then midway between,
break strip entirely across the land, and
about 80 rods wide, to plant the grove on
I hen lay off the farmes mile in length,
running from the road to the center of the
grove, and each 100 acres would contain
20 acres of timber. Such Township would
be the model settlement of the State; and I
honestly believe it would be worth three
times what it cost.
Let US see what it will cost to plant an
acre Of timber. Breaking the prairie, $3.50
If locust is to be planted, the seed should be
sown in drills like Usage Orange, or Apple
seed, in the Spring of the same year the
prairie is broken, that they may be dug up
and planted out the following Spring. To
plant them six feet apart each way, it will
AXE about 400 to the acre. Cost of plants,
b per hundred, is $ss. Setting out the
'oots, $3.50 per acre total cost, $65,50. w
The best way to set these roots cut, is to
blow the burrows, turning them out, and
making it as deep as possible. Then drop
The roots in the furrow, about six feet apart,
md cover them with pillow, turning two fur
ows back. have tried sowing the seed
where the tree is to grow, and the above
node of transplanting at one year old, and
he latter is far the best.
But to get cuttings of the White Willow,
Big Tree Willow" as it is sometimes called
by what have heard of il, will beat the Cot
on-wood in rapid growth, and it is better
rood than the Cottonwood. 1t splits freely
nd makes good rails, about equal to Soft
[aple. l would plant Locust enough for
osts and farm tools, and other hard timbers,
ut I would plant more Of the White Willow.
would cost about 81 per acre less. Mr.. @.
). Oyerman, of Bloomington, ILL.,, has kindly |
Fered to give to our College Farm, 1000
attings of this White Willow, where
e can try the tree two or three years, to see
ow it will grow, before we want to plant
rye groves Of it. He has these cuttings of
" "Big Tree Willow for sale, and would
lvise our farmeres to try it little. +
tt.fIa1sE oaoI2esayN f.'ijt SUEL Foster.
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