The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-02-19
TREE CULTURE,

Judge McMil an to the top.
TREE CULTURE.
We regret tat we have not space
tn give in full the address Of L. B.
uo'|ges, before the State Agricultu-
rnl Society, on.the subject of tree cul
turc. As is well known, MIR. Hodges
has had much experience in tree plant.
ing. and has made the subject study.
And there is one thing Of which he is
thoroughly satisfied, viz: that the
vas prairies Of the west can he made
habitable only by more extensive
culture Of groves and forests, and that
theAe can le so cultivated that in
very few years, the now uncultivated
plans will become one of the richest
garden spots Of the country.
We can give only the main points
Of Mr.. Hodges address:
l. MIR. H .dgcs estimates that the
present consumption Of wood in Min
nesota is about 10000 acres annual
~, and that in twenty live years our
timber supply will lie exhausted.
2. About 20, OOO, 900 trees have thus
far been planted in Minnesota. A.
bout l70,3O7 acres OF land have been
taken as tree claims, upon each l60
acres Of which the parties must plant
40 acres Of timber to comply with the
law.
8. Mr.. Fl. gives examples Of Sue
cessful tree culture in Minnesota
There are Cottonwood trees in Ohm
sted county planted II years ago
which are so to go feet high and 60
to 81 inches in circumference. The
same is true of CottonwoOds in Da-
kota county. 10 to Is years ago he
cleared land in Olmsted county and
left it without cultivation. 1t now
has ash, butternut, and p;gnut hicko-
~ trees IS feet high, and 10 to Is
inches in circumference In the same
county where there was once only
"grub prairie" there are now jack
oak, white oak and butternut trees rs
to 80 feet high and 20 to 80 inches in
circumference. Also in Olmsted
county, he knows Of black walnut trees
I years old and Is to 20 feet high
In Fillmore county there are black
ash trees years old and ! 8 feet high.
In st. Paul there are tamaracks trans
planted IL years ago which are 30 to
IS feet high and large enough for
railroad ties. Many Of these trees
received no cultivation.
Mr.: Hodges makes some very pos
tive assertions about tree plant ng
which are worth needing by every
settler in this region especially. We
are glad to find man of such un-
questioned prac zeal knowledge and
experience coming forward with views
which We have steadily urged upon
this community and for which we
hav.: been sometimes charged with
refrigeration" Mr.. H. says:
Right here, propose to challe, ge
the present prevailing sentiments and
opinions about tree planting, by a few
assertions, which if false can III read
lily disproved, and if true will be of
permanent value to this State.
l. assert that the farmer on the
heakest portion Of our treeless re-
gions, can, with less ready money
than it would cost to buy a breaking
plow, surround his stock-ya d and
buildings with a wind break within
five years, that will protect him as ef-
fectually as though he was in the mid
die Of the Big Woods.
q That crop Of trees can lie
grown as surely, and in proportion O
its value, with far less expense than
a crop of corn.
3. That ten acres, properly planted
to timber, and properly cultivated,
will in FIVE years supply fuel for a
family in great abundance, and also
fencing for the farm OF 100 acres.
4. That the most worthless lands
0 OR tree ess regions, can through,
the Intervention Of the Tree-Plante,
be sold for 500 per acre, within TWEEN.
ty years.
$. That the nett profits on quar-,
ter section OF prairie, properly prepar'
ed, planted and cultivated with forest
trees, will, within ten years, exceed
the nett profits of ten quarter.section:
of wheat.
6. That single cottonwood seed
although smaller than "a grain Of
mustard" can by intelligent cultiva
ton be developed into a cord of fire
wood within twenty years.
7. That any young man of muscu
lar development and good "hors'
sense" can surely accomplish thes'
results; providing always, that he i
not In too great haste to get rich; ant
8. That the genuine white willow
properly handled, will increase taste
d. 3D. :.,Ao~o.A ~ 49,.