The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-08-07

of this variety. AS wind-break it can
be grown rapidly, and for protection Of
farms from hot and cold winds, sun,
rain, sleet and snow, the willow cannot
be overrated When planted sing y it
attains growth of seventy to eighty
feet in hight with an immense trunk,
but its value is most realized when
planted in rows as road shades. What
is prettier than an avenue of giant
white willows with their grateful shade
and long, graceful branches? l know
of several miles of willow wind-brakes
which are five years old from the cut
tings, and form a perfect wind-break Is
feet high A farmer in Douglas coun-
ty, Nebraska, has four miles of willows
two wears old, and at four years of age
they are a complete protection from
storms and inroads of stock Willow
cuttings are best made in the Fall, and
should be tied in bundles, and buried in
dry place under foot of earth
Keep them cool in cellar, and as soon
as the ground in the Spring will permit
pillow deep furrow and set out the cut
tings against the land side, while q
second man follows with spade, filling
in the earth and pressing it down firm
ly with the foot The soil should be
pressed as closely about the plants as
possible. Cuttings should be set out
so as to leave two or three inches out
of the earth. With proper care in
planting and keeping down the weeds
not over per cent of the plants will
be lost; yet this is considered one of
the hard trees to raise. A belt of will
lows planted along the side of an Or
chard, near Nebraska City, sheltered it
from frost. A severe frost had occur
red few days before my informant saw
the belt of willows, damaging the fruit
blossoms greatly, and along the side
where the willows were growing fifteen
to twenty feet high few peaches were
killed, while on the north side, where
no willows, the peaches were total
failure The reason of this was that
when the sun had its full power the
temperature rose to such an extent that
as soon as the cold air of evening,
peculiar to Northern ATTITUDES, set in,
that locality was the first to feel its
effects and suffer most from frost.
should like to notice some other varie-
ties of trees, but have already written
more than | intended, and for fear of
wearying the reader will now close my
letter. There is no secret about forest
culture. Any man who can raise pota-
toes and corn can raise trees, if he will
only take the trouble to plant and cult
vate them a little. We have got to
come to forest planting some time, and
the sooner we begin the better. The
land has been robbed of its noble woods,
and they can only be replaced by forest
culture. 1t is not after all so difficult
to replace them, but we should begin at
once. The man who plants tree by
that act becomes a public benefactor.
The awakening interest among all
classes of the community about tree
growing is most encouraging to the
| friends of forest culture. feel grateful
to you for your handsome notice of my
last letter, and to many editors who
copied it in the columns Of their great
journals, thus enabling me to reach
millions of readers. If, as you say, l
have been instrumental, giving useful
information to my fellow-citizens on an
interesting subject, it is the highest
honor that could fall to the lot Of any
man, for he who instructs the public
Alright performs the greatest service he
could render his countrymen.
Yours truly, JAMES S. BR1sBIN,
United States Army