Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-09-18
Forest Tree Culture.

We have for many years claimed that
the culture of timber trees could be made
as profitable as ordinary farming, even in
regions of country where natural forests
were comparatively plentiful. If we
carefully examine the trees in any of our
natural forests, especially those composed
of various kinds we find that large pro-
portion are inferior, if not almost worth.
less for anything except fuel.
Many persons form their estimate of
the value of an acre of cultivated trees
from the quality of those growing upon
a similar area in our natural forests; but
they could scarcely make a greater mis-
take. We doubt, for instance, if there is
an acre of second-growth hickory forest
anywhere which will yield 1000 hoop
poles; but it is well known that by regu-
larity in planting and proper cultivation
5000 to 10000 would not be an extraordi-
nary yield from the area named. The
same rule holds good with all other kinds
of trees, whether they are to be used
while small or allowed to grow UP into
timber large enough for building pur-
poses. The best sugar maple groves in
our Northern States include usually a
number of other kinds of trees, and if
the latter were removed the position of
those remaining would be very irregular
Some would be crowded, while others
would have more room than they require
to insure health and old age.
In uncultivable lands uniformity is out
of the question, and the most that can be
done is to plant such kinds of trees as
are desirable and in the best spots which
can be found for their reception. There
are also millions of acres of land in the
older Statno no
have been removed and the young
growth permitted to take it's chances in
struggle for existence among briers,
weeds and small shrubs of no value what
ever, Here little attention in cutting
out inferior sorts and thinning the good
trees would certainly be profitable in
vestment for the owners
The few who have paid particular at
tentlon to this subject of improving natu-
raj forests or planting new ones are all
agreed in regard to the profit side of the
question, and this should encourage
others to try their hand. But forest tree
cultivation on an extensive scale must
for many years to come be confined to
the Western prairies, where at the present
time more attention is being paid to this
branch of industry than elsewhere.
Much as there has been done, there is
still room and actual need of millions of
trees for where there are now only hun
dreds growing.
But it is to be feared that great mis-
takes have been made in regard to the
kinds planted, the cheapest and most
rapid-growing being selected in prefer
ence to the most valuable. Cottonwood
and willow may answer to start with
where there is no timber of any kind,
but they are really of no value except
for shade, shelter and firewood. But
the farmers out West will soon, and in
fact do now, need something better than
these soft, spOngy kinds of wood.
Hickory, ash, maple, and other hard
woods are required not only for fuel, but
for mechanical uses, and there should be
no delay in securing the seeds and get
ting the young seedlings started
For tough timber suitable for the ordi
nary farm implements, ash, elm, hickory
and oak are probably the best, while
chestnut, naples of the different species,
locust, whitewood, and black walnut
should be extensively planted for various
other purposes. An acre of each wSuld
not come amiss upon every large farm;
but there are few localities where all the
different kinds would do equally well.
The white oak succeeds best in light or
heavy soils, while the elm prefers
moist soil full of vegetable matter. All
the hickories thrive in rather heavy
clay, although some, like the common
thick shell, are found on high, dry, but
stony lands. Chestnuts prefer a rather
dry, sandy soil old red sandstone seems
to be its natural home, while clay or lime
stone soils are not cengenial. Sugar
naples thrive best in limestone or slaty
soils, succeeding poorly in sand or peat
lands, while the scarlet and silver leaf
maple grow best in land containing a
large amount of humus. Locusts and
black walnut seem to thrive in almost
any land not too wet. From these varie-
ties any farmer should be able to make
selection suited to his locality and spe-
cial needs. A few acres of hickory or
ash would not come amiss even in the
older States, where these kinds are most
abundant, but in prairie country the
value must certainly be greatly en-
HANGED through scarcity.
Either the seeds or one or two year old
seedlings of any of the kinds named can
be procured so cheaply that cost can
scarcely be urged as an excuse for not
attempting their cultivation. Whether
seeds or seedlings are procured to begin
with, the land for their reception should
be thoroughly prepared this fall, and the
earlier the better, for to have land in
good tilth is as important with trees as
with other farm crops. The seeds may
be mixed with moist sand and kept in
boxes buried in the open ground through
winter We prefer this mode of keeping
seeds to that of planting them in autumn