Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-03-31
THE EVENING NEWS.
Th.r.l.y sve.i.s----M.rcHs 81. is.o


We notice a greater disposition ap-
parent this eason than any previous
n since this section was settled, to
plant shade trees. Loads Of young
cottonwoods pass our office almost
daily, brought up from Carson River,
and plenty of them are being set out
within the limits Of Gold Hill and Vir-
ginia, about private residences espe-
cially. We cannot say that we alto
gether approve of the cottonwood rs
the best shade tree for this peculiar
locality. They are the easiest OBJ
tanned, perhaps, and If kept we'll wa
tered and properly trimmed down
they are certainly better than none ut
all, but even then they should be shell
tered and protected Us far as possible
from the high winds-ths "Washoe
zephyrs (which visit us OCCASION
ally. a tall cottonwood would prove
no tough obstacle against one Of these
rude. tearing old blasts which tum-
bles horses over, prostrates telegraph
poles. and sends all sorts Of movable
objects whirling high in the air. Even
the tough locust tree would fare hard.
1t may be agreed that in far more
elevated and stormy localities than
this, OH the summit Of the Sierra
Nevada, for instance, much taller
trees thrive abundantly and with
stand the gales Of centuries. It Is
very true that the talleSt, slimmest,
and thriftiest Of pines, firs and other
varieties of trees wave there triumph
antly in their mountain home, yet the
wind never blows there rs 1t does here;
If it did they would oon cover the
ground. This fact is evident when we
take into consideration the very differ
ent character of indigenous trees aud
shrubbery peculiar to each locality.
There everything grows luxuriantly
and tall, while here even Hottest
trees. the nut-pines aud cedars, are
dwarfed and stunted, with heavy, short
trunks and strong roots, deeply and
firmly set in the ground, as though
calculated to resist the very hurricanes
they encounter so frequently. 1t is
we'll that they are thus firmly con
structed, or this section would be more
sparsely wooded than it Is. The best
Of our dwarf forests grow In the most
sheltered places, while in the bleakest,
most unprotected spots none grow ut
all. The less hardy trees, such as the
cottonwood. willow, etc., grow only |
in sheltered ravines and valleys. No
such hurricanes prevail on the western
slope Of the Sierra Nevada rs are so
peculiar to the eastern slope, and the
bleak ranges OF the Great American
Basin; hence the different style of
trees and shrubbery, influenced Of
course, to u considerable degree, by |
the more sterile character Of the coun-
try. =.
maccordance with the constitutional
requirements of the country in the
way of vegetation, we should select for
permanent shade trees and shrubbcry
only such as are not Of LOFTY ambition,
otherwise We might see our towering
verlant hopes Frustrated some day
before the ruthless zephyr" The
live oak, laurel, and similar trees
of slow growth, are consequently
tough, and being evergreens, are very
pretty shade trees, and there are sew
eral other suitable varieties, which we
cannot particularly call to mind ut
present. The manZanita, and many
other pretty dwarf trees peculiar to
this section, are all available in the
way of shrubbery adornments, and
for something handsome and Of quick
growth, even the malva might be made
to answer. But, as We have said be-
fore, the cottonwood. locust, ash, or
any other variety Of shade tree, are a
desirable Improvement to any ones
home or property, yet If act out, should
he kept properly trimmed down, shell
tered and protected.