The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-07-26
Tree Culture in the United States.

Gen. lIrisbin, stationed with the rcgrI-
lar army in the far West, having male
tree culture study Of many years,
writes to the New York World directions
for raising many useful varieties. As
the culture OF trees isnow acknowledged
to be of great Importance, il view Of
their effect upon the water supply OF II
country, rs demonstrated in various
parts Of Europe, and even i'll oar own
Western States, where premiums are
offered fOr tho greatest number planted,
We append IL few OF his directions and
remarks:
The black walnut is 4 fnvorite tree, and
very useful. 1t grows admirably i'll
rocky ground, and thrivcs hest in land
with yellow subsoil. To prepare the
land, furrow ont rs if for corn and drop
the walnnts one i'll hill, four feet apart.
Cover lightly with hoe or plow. The
seed should be planted soon after it falls
from the tree, and is best dropped with
the hull on. Ii this cannot be done,
bury the secd-but by no means allow
it to dry. Seed is also good dropped in
February and covered III tho spring.
The frost cracks the walnut shell, and
the sprout will start ont soon after being
covered in April or May. Forty acres Of
walnut timber will yield the farmer in
ten years more than ii the land is planted
every season in grain. The trees will
grow the first year ten or twelve inches,
the second thirty, and the third year,
four to five feet. The first md second
year the ground may be planted between
tho rows with potatoes or corn and it
will not hurt tho young trees, walnut
striking deep root anal drawing its sus-
tcnance from the subsoil. TO make the
trees bear nuts early dig uuler anil cut
the tap root. Fruit ;recs that do not
bear may also DO made to bear by cut
ting their main Or tap roots.
An experienced tree crowGr says an
acre OF sugar naples nj twenty-five years
OF age will average one Foot i'll diameter
and produce 1000 pounds Of sugar an
nualIy. When the trees measure twenty
inches they will give 10000 feet OF lum-
ber worth $500, besides great deal Of
fuel. A popularity Of this tree is its
body increases i'll size fastor than the
top. 1t can therefore be plaItcd very
closely. Two hundred trees will grow
on an acre. Maple seed ripens III Octo-
bcr and should be planted in rows the
same as ash, but not SO thiclly. After
planting allow the tree to stand two
years in the nursery and then transplant
to ground where it is to grow perma-
uCutly.
The oak is the most valuable Of all
trees. 1t can readily be raised from the
seed, which should be gathered in the
fall, after the acorns drop. The best
month to gather seed is October, and it
should bo planted at once, or kept in
cool, moist condition until spring. The
plants should be set out about eight feet
apart, and between the rows some up
right growing tree can bc planted us
nurses for tho oak. These latter should
be cut away whenever it is necessary to
make room for the oak. Burr oak and
chestnut oak are best for fuel and rcd
oak the best for rails.
The soft maple, i'll its wild state m ,ln
couth aud seraggy tree, when grown
closely i'll cultivated grove is much
improved i'll appearance and II most use
full tree. l have seen numerous patches
well shaped, and eight and and ten feet
high ut three and four years Of age. In
NpnOnla county, Iowa, maple trees,
seven years old from tho sccd, were
large enough to make three ten foot
rails, and ~ acre yielded 5000 rails.
This timber is always i'll great demand
for manufacturing purposes. 1t beats
the walnut three years i'll growth of
ten years. The seeds ripcn III juno, and
should be sown in mellow ground us
soon as they fall. Plant one and half
inches deep with drills, III rows twenty
inches apart. They will como up in six
days. Keep the weeds ont until the
plants get good start. The first year
they will grow eighteen or twenty inches.
They should he trNusplanted the next
spring and set ont 200 to the acre.
They will grow four to five feet the
second year.