The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1875-03-11
1oRHsr CULTURE

- s 1onzsr ouzrgan'
Thera is, doubtless no one thing
more intimately connected with the
continued prosperity Of the farmers OF
Minnesota, than the early and favora-
BILE solution of the question of supply-
ing the State properly with fuel.
Many people have been discouraged
altogether from coming to the State
on account Of the scarcity Of timber
There arsgast districts in the State
comprising some Of the most fertile
lands to be found in the Northwest
yet, practically destitute of growing
timber. These landgnrs%sspsbls Of
supporting . dsnss puhti.r if.the
requisite amount Of timber could be
secured.
~. While some counties.in the. State
hass,pleaty of timber and to spare,
tAsre,ars many others which are CON-
paratively destitute Of this indispen.
! sable article.
Mr.. L. B. Hodges, Superintendent
'oftree-planting of the St. Paul and
Pacific Railroad Company, recently
read an interesting essay on Forest
Culture in Minnesota" at the annual
meeting Of the State Agricultural
Society in Minneapolis. Mr.. Hodges
has not only had considerable expert
ence in tree-planting, but has taken
much pains TO secure information up
on this subject, therefore in reference
to the timber question he is undoubt-
edly the best authority in the State.
Mr.. Hodges estimates the number of
families in the State to be 10000.
To provide one family comfortable
degree Of warmth throughout, the
year requires twelve cords Of wood.
This one item Of fuel for the house
hold demands an annual consumption
of l, 44O, 900 cords of, wood. Adding
to this the quantity Of wood consum-
ed by the railroads, the total amount
Of wood consumed yearlyis 1910, 600
cords. As the growing timber in
the State, including the "big woods"
Is we'll % minor forests and groves
are not sufficient to bear for, any con-
siderable number of years, this vast
consumption, Mr.. Hodges very sensi-
bly, and truthfully suggests that the
only remedy against the total destruc-
ton of the forests Of the State at NO
distant day, is a judicious and gener-
Il system Of tree-planting and forest.
culture, to be begun and carried on
by the State government. He thinks
the State should at once organize a
tree-planting department, and appro-
pirate reasonable sum for it's opera
tons.
In regard to the practicability and
economic value of tree-planting, Mr..
Hodges makes the; following asser-
tons:
l. I assert that the farmer on the
bleakest portion of our treeless re-
gions can, with less ready money
than it would cost to buy a breaking
pillow, surround his stockyard and
buildings with 4 windbreak within
five Year,, that will protect him :. as
eaectaally as though he was in. the
middle Of the Big Woods. 49,: d ! !
2. That crop Of trees can be
grown as surely, and in proportion, to
its value, with far less expense than a
crop Of corn.
8. That ten acres. properly 'cul-
tivated. will in five years supply fuel
for a family in great abundance, and
also fencing for a farm of 100 acres.
4. That the most worthless lands
Of the treeless regions, can, through
the intervention Of the Tree Planter,
be sold for 800 per acre within twen-
ty years.
5. That the net profits on quar-
ter section Of prairie, properly pre-
pared, planted and cultivated with
forest trees, will within ten years ex-
coed by far the net profits of ten quar-
ter sections of wheat.
s. That a single cottonwood seed,
although smaller, than "a, grain of
mustard seed" can by intelligent cul-
tivation be developed into cord Of
firewood within 70 years.
Z. That any young man Of strong
muscular development" and good
horse sense,' can surely accomplish
these results; providing, always that
he is not in too great haste toget rich,
and sv = J.. J.
8. That the genuine white willow,
properly b handled, will increase faster
than money at interest at four per
cent. per month, and that the first d.
vision Of the St. Paul and, Pacific
Railroad Company is NOW prepared
10 furnish It to settlers on their lines,
delivered at any station Oh the prairie
free Of u at - cost Of
from one to two dollars per- thousand
trees. %... ....,:
These may to some sound like bold,
reckless and perhaps ignorant as ser
tions, but they are hereby made, and.
l propose to stand by them.
BURxrNG POTATOES.
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C0rrsspondsaes Of Me. Edrmers Union. -