The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-07-22
Tree Culture in the United States.

Gen. Brisbin, stationed with the regu-
lar army in the far West, having made
tree culture q 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, in view of
their effect upon the water supply of a
country, as demonstrated in various
parts of Europe, and even in our own
Western States, where premiums are
offered for the greatest number planted,
we append few of his directions and
remarks:
The black walnut is favorite tree, and
very useful. 1t grows admirably in
rocky ground, and prives best in land
with a yellow sy Doll. To prepare the
land, frrrow out as if for corn and drop
the walnuts one in hill, four feet apart.
Cover lightly with a hoe or plow. The
seed should be planted soon after it falls
from the tree, and is best dropped with
the hull on. If this cannot be done,
bury the seed-but by no means allow
it to dry. Seed is also good dropped in
February and covered in the spring.
The frost cracks the walnut shell, and
the sprout will start out soon after being
covered in April or May. Forty acres Of
walnut timber will yield the farmer in
ten years more than if 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 and second
year the ground may be planted between
the rows with potatoes or corn and it
will not hurt the young trees, walnut
striking deep root and drawing it's sus-
tenance from the subsoil. To make the
trees bear nuts early dig under and cut
the tap root Fruit trees that do not
bear may also be made to bear by cut
ting their main or tap roots.
An experienced tree grower says an
acre of sugar naples at twenty-five years
of age will average one foot in diameter
and produce 1000 pounds of sugar an
nually. When the trees measure twenty
inches they will give $4,000 feet of lum-
ber worth $4,000, besides great deal of
fuel. A popularity of this tree is its
body increases in size faster than the
top. 1t can therefore be planted very
closely. Two hundred trees will grow
on an acre. Maple seed ripens in Octo-
ber and should be planted in rows the
same as ash, but not so thickly. After
planting allow the tree to stand two
years in the nursery and then transplant
to ground where it is to grow perma-
nently.
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 be planted.at once, or kept in q
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 be planted as
nurses for the 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 red
oak the best for rails.
- The soft maple, in its wild state an I'M
couth and scraggy tree, when grown
closely in a cultivated grove is much
improved in appearance and n most use
full tree. l have seen numerous patches
well shaped, and eight and and ten feet
high at three and four years of age. In
Nonoma county, Iowa, maple trees,
seven years old from the seed, were
large enough to make three ten foot
rails, and an acre yielded 5000 rails.
This timber is always in great demand
for manufacturing purposes. 1t beats
the walnut three years in growth OF
ten years. The seeds ripen in June, and
should be sown i'll mellow ground as
soon as they fall. Plant one and a hal
inches deep with drills, in rows twenty
inches apart. They will come up in sil
days. Keep the weeds out until tht
plants get a good start. The first yea
they will grow eighteen OF twenty inches
They should be transplanted the mex
spring and set out 2,700 to the acre
They will grow four to five feet tn
second year.