Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-03-27
THE WHITE Or POWDER WILLOW
Correspondence Of the Country Gentleman
On this text from (towards)
Dixtes land take NV stand

On this text from Qtowards)
Dixie's land take my stand.
AEssRs. EDIroRs-" Why not grow vii.
low 7" you ask. I'VE want to fence in 40
acres of land, close to populous town,
planted in various fruit trees, with artificial
ponds, &C., and should like to keep Young
America out, which the highest plank fence
has hitherto failed to accomplish, and fear
that willow will not do it either Therefore
we prefer Usage"
For such purpose let thorns and briars
grow, but is there not more excellent way
Who can really blame children for loving
fruits, gardens &C., and who would not d.
vide the luxury with them, seeing how starv-
ed many must 60 at home-and will they not
we'll repay such treatment abroad? While
We do not object to oil reasonable care,
watching, fencing, and perhaps at times Sc
verify, over the passion of earth's choicest
product, we do believe in tho policy as well
ss satisfaction of dividing the spoils. If
wrong here, it is because twenty years of ob-
servation has failed to prove to us the error.
Let us then grow fruits and flowers, show
how it is done, what blessed luxuries and
benefits they bring, and hope for their uni.
versal diffusion.
We are often asked our opinion of the
white. gray, powder or timber willow, which
we submit herewith-premising that the
most unpleasant and hurtful characteristic of
the prairies, is tho lack Of timber, causing an
almost desert monOtony of outline, with an
oeesn. bleakness and wind,ness, preventing
settlement, and injuring life, health and crops
the only cure for which is timber planting
and raising. The most desirable object can
be secured and made general, so far as we
can see, only by planting out tree sets in
fence lines.
Of this willow we would say as we believe
reliably:
LIST. 1t is reported Of European origin, and
has been known in America for several gen.
erations, say Is to 100 years or more.
I'd. 1t has been tested the past % years
in Fulton Co., ILL.,, on high and low ground,
and for less time in sections west north.
ward as far as St. Paul, Minnesota, where
western soil generally, and we doubt if any
fair tillable soil can be found west where this
will not grow. We have seen it side by side
With naples, elms, sycamores, and the like
on light, almost barren sands, and yet rival
ling the best at the same age, though none
seemed really 1T home. Yet
Sd. It undoubtedly prefers and attains its
greatest perfection OH . rich, moist SOIL
While it will not live with roots and base or
crown under water permanently, it thrives at
the waters edge. We believe it as thorough.
~ adapted to western upland soil as the cot
ton.wood, while it is far tougher, harder,
more enduring, thick topped, better adapted
10 fence and screen purposes, and no fear of
its spreading!
18th. It is tree nearly LIST class in size
and breadth, not in height and straightness
e trunk, but more spreading and branchy
We have seen it feet through feet from
the ground, and not less than 60 years old,
in perfect vigor, bidding fair to last another
generation.
9Th. 1t is tree Of great vitality, bearing,
for many years, to be cut back every 18th year
after it once gets established. Its growth is
rapid, healthy, beautiful, making the speedi-
est and best screen or wind. brsak-a perfect
shelter for crops and buildings. 1t never
sprouts from broken roots.
eth. The wood is very straight grained,
splitting freely and making (off the ground)
durable light rail.
It'll. It grows freely, and is always propa-
gated from cuttings-the larger growing
stronger and under adverse circumstances
sureF than smaller. All sizes however arr
planted from six inches thick down The
l
OF common size. GO inches long and to
inch thickD planted one foot apart, with q
fair cultivated soil and chance, s,,oul aver.
age ~ feet-in years 10 feet, making Il
splendid screen and in wears 10 or 30 feet,
making good inside fence. For strong
street Or road fence it may take six years,
and then is the very cheapest ana best fence
for the prairies. Those who have tried ,r as
afsnce in Lee and Ogle counties, SO regard
it; and so far as we know, every man, OF
hundreds who have visited those fences, has
expressed himself perfectly satisfied as to its
admirable fence making capacities.
Lot US add, that though its cultivation Is
aEfremejy simple it will not grow or thrive
everywhere and anyhow-in sod or standing
water, or without cultivation but shows
its keep" % well Is any other tree or plant