Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-01-10
TRFE PLANTING.


DEAR STAR: Permit me through the me-
dunn Of your columns to address few words
to those who live on the open prairie on the
advantages accruing to them from planting
groves Of forest trees on their premises.
The frst benefit to be derived from q grove
on the prairie is q shelter from the cutting
winds which blow 30 keenly over the bleak
wintry waste Of q prairie country. It is we'll
kpown to all who have moved from the wood
ed hillsides Of the Eastern and Middle States,
how much harder to endure the winters are
on the open prairies of the West, even while
the thermometer marks higher temperature.
This Is caused by the wind, which comes en-
trey Inoroken from the 10y SUBMITS of the
ROCKY Mountains. Now let a person who Is
travelling over the prairie in the winter in the
face Of Nor 'wester, just come into the shell
ter OF few bushes, it may be they are leaf
less, but as soon as he passes them he is made
aware of the benefit Of even poor shelter.
and can appreciate the comfort person would
take in doing his chores in the shelter of q
grove in a singing cold day in winter.
The second benefit is the timber for domes-
tic purposes. To many this is a matter Of
great interest, and they would plant trees
only they think that the trees would be Of no
benefit to them, or else they put it of in q
dilstory way till some more convenient sea-
son, which in NEST cases never arrives. Now
there are trees that will thrive and grow on
prairie soil amazingly fast. 1 have seen q
cottonwood set out about two feet high, grow
IN three years to be from Is to 20 feet high,
and from three to FIVE inches in diameter at
the ground. Now few of such fast growing
trees, to shelter and induce 9 more thrifty
growth in the slow growing hard woods, such
as the oak and maple, would soon make a
beautiful grsve, from which fencing and fire.
wood could be got in limited quantities and
IN few years in more abundance.
The third consideration that should induce
the dweller on the prairie to plant trees, is
the benefit of the fruit to both man and beast
Among the nutbearing trees indigenous to
most prairie countries are the walnuts, black
and white, and thsshell- bark hickories; the
chestnut will grow IN some situations, and
doubt not, with proper care and shelter, it
will everywhere; and who will overlook the
pleasure to be derived around the family
hearth on q winter evening over a few but
ternuts, walnuts, or the estimable chestnut
Then the acorns and the nuts Of the bitter
hickories will, If given due prominence in a
farm grove, fatten poultry, and feed growing
swine ss we'll as corn, while they may gather
these themselves.
The fourth consideration is to screen an
orchard and garden from the wind and sun
The great trouble in raising fruit trees in this
country is the exposed situations either to the
heat Of the sun or to the cold winds, or both
In the warm days Of spring the sun pours his
rays directly on them and starts the sap; next
day bitter northwest wind freeses them up,
bursts the sap vessels, and thus blights, and
eventually kills the tree; whereas, had it been
sheltered from both influences by other trees
they would have kept the farce rays of the
sun from 1t, and also the cold wind, protect
ing them from spring changes, summer heats,
and the fruit from the early frosts Of autumn
We also know how hard it is to raise early
vegetables In an exposed situation; to con-
vince any one Of the benefit to be derived
0n LAT
compare the wild plants on the open prairie
with those at the edge Of some grove, where
he will ind them half hidden BY old leaves.
growing finely, while the others are hardly
started. There are also many vegetables
which grow much better in a sheltered situ-
alton, but especially Is the shelter of a grove
desirable for early vegetables.
The nth consideration is, that these groves
will be great benefit to future generations.
This idea 10 benevolent man is one that will
have considerable weight; he does not live en-
tirely for self, but is willing, nay anxious to
do something useful in the world; and one of
the most useful is to start groves of beautiful
and useful trees on the prairies of your neigh.
borhood, directly, by your own hands, on your
own farm; indirectly, by your example and
advice, and If necessary, your help also, on
those Of your neighbors.
The sixth consideration is 10 add to the
beauties, the pleasures, and the attractions of
home. What attraction Is there, can there
be, In home which only contains the four
walls at right angles to each other, and on a
line with some principal meridian, or correc-
tion line, nothing to shelter it from the driv-
ing winds nsr scorching sun; but surround Ii
with trees, make it place of comfort, of rest,
and peace, and your children and dependen Is
will feel the blessed influence, and instead Of
fleeing to the city to find employment behind
the merchants counter, or in the LAWYERS
once, they will be more likely to remain at
home, and follow the business of an agricul-
turist, which is the most virtuous, as we'll as
that on which all others depend, on which the
prosperity Of the whole country is mainly
bulit. LAMBDA