The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1870-03-18
Timber for Prairies.

h
Tree culture. for timber. for fruit
for fencing or hedging, and for shad,
or windhreak, is one Of the most i'm
portant subjects now cnga ging th,
attention Of our Western farmers.
will speak in tLis article of trees fol
timber. Two objects are kept il
view in selecting troes--frst. thu
kind ofproduct desired for mcchau
cal purposes; and second, the useful
ness of the trees while growing-it
ameliorating the rigor Of our winters,
the brealing-up Of our sweeping wint
currents, and thus creating greater
uniformity Of temperature and moist
urc. and promoting health and com.
fort. The second consideration /:
ha,dly inferior to the first. What
trees, adapted to our soil aud clima
will best secure these two ends
Practical men differ widely, even in
the same locality. I give the result
of my own experience and obscrva
tion. ... -........ - .
The White or Gruy NiUow, The
ill-used or much abused willow-de
serves first mention. No Other
tree is so easily propagated; no Other
grows so rapidly; and no other decid
uous or lcaf-shedding tree forms SC
perfect a wiudLreak There Is scarce.
~ arod Of ground in Iowa. if any
other prairie state, where it canno,
be successfully grown 1t bears
abuse admirably, both in culture and
in print. Tour correspondent has
not and never had any interest in
selling willows. We have seen how
well he and his neig ighbors grow them
for their usc.-EDs. The timber,
like all other very rapidly grown
wood, is light, but it makes COED
summer fuel, aad it is useful for Il
great variety Of other purposes upon
the farm. 1t should not be planted
near dwellings, as it is liable to be
infested with a species Of aphis,
which sometimes gets possession oi
.thc house, and is worse than the
bedhng to get rid Of In future
article upon hedges, I will give my
experience with the willow, and OBJ
servat;ons Of it as 4 hedge plant,
both Of which are conclusive to me
that it will make a good fence.
| The Cotton wood and White or
Soft Maple are both valuable trees,
though perhaps not SO in the order ]
have named them. If necessary to
give up either, should hardly know
which to part with. The Cotton
wood makes remarkably rapid
growth, and on account Of Its ability
to stand crowding, and ample foliage,
it is valua ble as windbrcak. Like
the willow, it is easily propa gated
from "cuttings.'' 1t is not de-
sira bic door-yard tree, as it is liabl c
to be stripped Of its foliage by beet
les, which are annoying around a
house; and the trees become bare and
unsigh,ly. The comparative value
Of this tree and the White Willow, as
timber, is about the same.
The White Maple is great. fayo-
rite with us, though l learned re-
Gently that in some parts of the
State is being attacked by borers.
Ii this is true, it will be a serious
objec tion to it. T'wonld like to hear
from any locality where this is the
ease. 1t is hardy and thrifty, free
from ver,nin, and just the thing for
the read side or the front yard. 1t
is easily propagated from the seed,
which should be sown as soon as it
falls, in mellow soil, and bo treated
very much like corn. Aud just here,
farmers Of the great West: let me en-
treat you to set out at once, If you
have not already done so, row OF
these trees, on the road side, against
your premises. Set the fence. as the
law Of Iowa at least allows fer sucl
purposes, six feet into the highway,
and plant the trees four feet within
tlre Renee, SO that they will stand two
feet fron~the line when the ferce is
no longer needed for their protection.
At the end OF ten years the trees
will be inyalua ble.
The box elder (Nsgundo) and
European larch should both have Il
place in. our grounds. The formc,
has not as yet been sufficiently tested
for unqualified praise. and tho latter,
though superior for timber, is tor
slow u grower, and too tender to bs
recommended tor extensive cultiyu
tion.
| The few of our farmers who plant
out groves at all make a greut mis-.
take in planting only one kind 1o
tree. We should initiate nature here
and have more variety White elm
linden, black and white walnut
black cherry, and.a few hardy ever
green's. such as spruce. pine, fir ant
arbor yitU, should all havea place
not only as matter Of utility, bu
Of beauty. Upon the subject of cul
tiuation nothing need be said, q
every farmer we'll understands how
necessary it is to all yegctabl,
growth.
/ By an act Of the Twelfth Genera
I Assembly Of Iowa. every taxpaye
who shall plant and suitably cultivat,
one or mere acres Of forest trees 10
timber shall be exempt from taxatio,
to the amount Of one. hundred dol