The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-09-13
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
u,.oos INV Wafer Side,

Anvone who has been at all observing has
not Hailad to notice that the largest, most
thrifto and luxurient trees are to be found on
III hanks of lakes rivers and smaller streams
of water. In the prairie region of the West,
where trees are ordnarially scarce, we rarely
find stream which is not lined by them on
both sides. We may generally trace water
courses long distances by the lines of trees.
Illinois has very little except along the banks
of her rivers and streams, and on the broken
ridges into southern part of the State, where
springs and streamlets abound. The same is
true of all the States in the prairie region.
There is scarcely any tree, whether desired
for ornament or profit, that does not grow to
the best advantage when planted on the
bank of a stream, while there are several va
rieties of trees, shrubs and vines that do very
poorly in other locations. Not only do fruit
trees grow better on the banks of strains, but
they are almost more productive. Again, the
fruit is likely to be fairer and free from blem
ishes. In short, the banks of streams seem
to be the places best adapted by nature to the
growth of trees, and we should look to these
places to find not only the finest trees but the
finest fruit.
The reason why trees flourish best on the
banks of streams and lakes are chiefly three
in number. There is no danger of their be-
ing injured by drouth. The roots of trees in
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propriate it. In time OF protracted dry
ness trees at distance from water will stop
growing or die outright, while those in the
vicinity of water will continue to grow. The
evaporation which is constantly taking place
on the surface of water keeps the leaves OF
trees moist and in the best condition to grow.
Again, the banks of streams afford the best
possible natural drainage, so that there will
be no stagnant water.
@1,ah ar, LIS IF CT ic No rIv
ALWAYS rich in both organic and inorganic
matter. Both are brought down by the
streams, and are taken up by the roots OF the
trees. So, too, the land for considerable
distance slopes toward the stream and affords
the means of carrying down fertilizing mate
rial. The two causes mentioned above COM
bine to make the soil on the banks of streams
rich even in districts where the land is gen.
orally very poor. This may be seen in all billy
and mountainous countries where good crops
are raised on the margins of streams, but
none at a distance from them.
There is great economy in raising trees on
or near the banks of streams and lakes, be-
cause the land there is of little value for any
other purpose. 1t cannot ordinarily be
plowed for the reason that it would wash
away. Were it not for this objection it
would be difficult to pillow it because the
banks are not straight. Raising trees on
these situations then is in the interest Of
economizing land, for the trees and their pro-
ducts are clear gains. The trees are orna-
ments to the ground, and are of value to the
streams by diminishing evaporation. In
short, the trees act to help the streams as the
streams act to help the trees.
The only objection that can be raised to
planting fruit trees by the side of lakes and
streams is that the fruit is apt to fall in the
water and be lost. This objection, however,
only applies to certain varieties of fruit, as
early apples, peaches and plums. Late ap-
Piles and pears as well as cherries, may be
grown to good advantage, as they are not
likely to fall from the trees.-ChicGgo Times.