Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-03-08
From the Iowa Homestead.
Whito Willow and Larch.

OF the Iowa Otate IlOftlculluTal %
ciety, in which occurs the follow
ing:
"Hedges = The White Willow
was the "bully hedge" at our meet
ing, the Hon. John Scott, of Story
county, being its champion, saying
there were hundreds Of miles ii
that county, turned out, which made
perfect fence against all stock
except small pigs"
It would seem from the discus
sion which followed that Bro. Eos
ter was understood to be attacking
the Willow in imputing to any one
the absurd statements accredited to
me. The record says:
"Bliss-defended the White Will
low; admitted that cattle are moi
afraid of it, and would sometimes
crowd through it, yet with little
care in planting it makes tolcrable
fence.
Wamsley-At Mt. Carroll they
have White Willow fences that
resist cattle perfectly.
Edwards-Gavc his experience III
White Willow fencing, which was
favorable.
Hunt-Has used White Willow
for u lane fence, and it suits the
purpose"
am glad to observe that such
men AS Mr.. Edwards, President OF
that Society, aud one of the oldest
and largest growers of evergreens
and the other gentlemen, should sc
fully endorse what l did really say
And that l may not be further mis-
represented, l will say through
your columns, by your PERMISSION
what claim for that which Foster
calls the humbug Willow.
1t is not "hedge plant" but il
timber tree, valuable OH the prai
RE for it's various uses. IMPLANTED
in rows, at intervals of ten OF
twelve inches, on we'll prepared
ground, in q proper manner, ant
we'll cared for, it will make bar
rier to all large stock in few years
l have a specimen of seven years
growth from small cutting, plant
ed in good soil, that is now tel
inches in diameter. 1t may b.
grown with full confidence of max
ing an inch in diameter for cacl
year of growth-aciM proper care
This latter is of the utmost lmDor
lance. Cattle, large and small, ar
very found of the tender growth
Spring calves will eat off the frs
summers growth, and destroy al
prospects of its usefulness. Horse
and mules will bark it and brows
it to death while young, during tn
winter.
There are many miles Of Whit
Willow now growing in Stor.
county, and the best evidence l cal
offer of it's value is to be found il
the fact that each year adds largel,
to the amount. There are man,
miles Of it that constitute such
barrier to stock rs to be very salts
factory to the owners. There ar
many miles of it that are 80 tolera
bic fence" There are many mile
of it that are not q fence of an,
kind. And yet even these strag
Cling rows, where owing to lat
planting, dried cuttings, want o
preparation Of the ground, want o
care, or from what ever caus
worthless rs fence, they are still
worth manyItimes the cost for fuel
poles, shade, shelter, ornament, ant
for what makes any tree on the prai
rie so much better than no tree 4
all.
| am inclined to think that SOM
of these results may be attained in
certain degree by the use of SOM
others of our rapid growing trees
but | know of none from which 5,
much can be done, and at SO littl'
cost of time, money and labor, ant
with SO much certainty. l there
fore recommend the White Willow
for these uses to those who live OF
the treclcss prairies. For shelter
and fuel, it is no less valuable thar
for the other purpose for which i
has been SO largely planted. twill
be W orth many hundreds of thou
sands of dollars to Western Iowa i
planted as largely as it should be.
l have recently been among thu
trec-growcrs of Northern Illinois,
l spent a day in Whitncy's orchard
of over 10000 trees, and saw hi.
fires glowing with the apple tree
heapcd high on his hospitabl'
hearth. lie says it will pay t.
raise the Yellow Bell Flower for fiji
el and timber! / believe it! l saw
his priceless farm and home, hi.
fruits and fruit-products, his larcl
and evergreen belts and groves
and saw what eighteen years OF
the prairie will do when aided by
energy and solid sense.
l spent day with Schofeld, still
young in heart, but whose forest!
of larch and cvergreers have grow
from paintings made by him at al
age when many men would have
dcspaircd ofsccing practical results
He is still planting, and will liv'
to see the fruits of his labors. Ii,
intends to live and to have some
thing to live for besides his banl
account. All honor to the brave
man! | dare not call him old; hi.
life is green and fresh rs the growtl
his hands have planted; and while
yet living he daily sees his ow,
monuments all about him; not thu
cold marble that tell of death and
decay, but the symbol of immortal
ity, with top reaching far towards
Heaven, and reminding us of til.
immortal part of man, that never
never dies. / cannot but think thai
such u man is immortal. He lives
in the future already. He who
plants tree belongs to the future
as well as to the present.
l brought away with me 4 section
of his la:ch growth, twelve years
from planting, and large enough TO,
u railroad tie; also, bit of larcl
twig that had lain upon the ground
for seven years, and perfectly sound
-, wooI ouJ horl / anfartHin nC