American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-04-26
Planting Trees.

EVERY spring we are reminded of the
various kinds of work which must be
done at this season, or we lose org year of
valuable time. After sowing seeds for the
purpose of producing the neccssaries of
life, tree planting is probably next in i'm
portance, for trees give us fruits and tim
Der, and add much to the pleasures of
country and suburban homes.
The want of trees is felt by a large pro-
portion of our people, including those who
reside in what is termed the timbered re-
gions of the country, for there is really a
scarcity of trees, and we have not suffic-
lent to supply us with shade and orna-
ment, to say nothing of the more practical
Bile uses to which they are generally ap-
piled. In thinly wooded regions, the in
habitants often suffer great Inconvenience
in consequence of the scarcity of trees, al
though it is due in great measure to
their own neglect of planting. If those
who own land would make IA beginning
in the way of planting trees as soon as the
need of them is felt, instead of waiting un-
til some more convenient time, the results
would be far more satisfactory to them
selves and others than under the present
and far too prevalent system.
Because man cannot obtain large
trees. or the best species and varieties, he
should not neglect to plant any, as many
do, offering no better excuse than the one
we have named. Make beginning with
the best that your position means will
command is our advice to every one who
desires fruit or ornamental trees. If a
man is SO poor that he cannot afford to
purchase nursery grown ornamental trees,
then he should 20 to the woods and dig
those that are found there, and carefully
transplant them to the desired location.
Our forests abound in choice species,
quite as valuable as the most costly exot-
les. If the forests are too far distant to
admit Of IA personal visit then small seed
lings or even seeds should be procured
from some dealer in these articles, and
planted where they will be growing while
you are waiting for that convenient future
time. No man who owns an acre OF land
can truthfully say that he cannot afford to
plant fruit as well as ornamental trees.
Our nurserymen provide for all classes,
and propagate trees and plants especially
adapted to the wants of those who are
poor, or who reside in regions not yet pen
etrated by railroads or steamboats,, and
accessible to the public only through the
mails, which afford transportation for
small packages of plants and seeds at very
low rates. A man may obtain the nucleus
or foundation for Il large forest or orchard
in few packages sent by mail, and for
very trifiing outlay.
There are hundreds of farmers who have
resided upon the prairies for Il dozen or
more wears, who have not planted on an
average one tree for each year; and no
more has been done toward securin" or
nament, shelter, or fruit, although they
could have had thousand trees laid down
at their door al any time for less than the
value of II yearling pig. Small evergreens
are sent out by nurserymen by mail for
about 81 per hundred and certain species
of shade ornamental and timber trees for
from 50 to 50 per thousand. For ilBtance
silver maple seedlings, one year old, have
been advertised for several years past at
from So to So per thousand, sent by mail
postpaid to any part of the United States
We have before us catalogue received
from one of our well known Western nur-
serymcn, in which we find Seeding forest
trees quoted at the following rates per
thousand: White ash, 8 to IL inches, 50;
beech 50; birch, 81; elm, s p; silver
maple 81 sugar maple, 3 10 6 inches high
So; and many other trees 1T equally low
rates.
These prices arc for trees delivered to
customers ut the nursery, but we presume
that one dollar per thousand extra
would pay for packing and post
are if sent through the mails. Ever
green trees as Il rule cost more than dccid-
uous, still they are cheap enough to come
within the reach of the poorest settler in Il
new country Many of the seedlings
mentioned above, if carefully planted and
cultivated, would in five years become
trees six inches in diameter and twenty
five or thirty feet high. A prairie farm
with Il thousand such trees growing upon
it would certainly command an additional
price of more than ten times the cost of
the period named. Where timber trees