The Worthington advance., 1876-06-29
TREE CULTURE.
FoKEsr HILL, O'Bricn County, Iowa.

May 18th, 1876 !
The above caption sounds rather
oddly in all exclusively prairie region,
doesn't it, Mr.. Editor provided the
forces of the new paper have not driven
the '|plowshare Of ruin'' through the
ADVANCE and so ended your editorial
carcer)? We'll, here is Il hill and it is
pretty well covered with trees, which,
If they do not form !; forest now, will
ut no very distant day, for everything
is operated OH Il fast line, you know, in
this new country. Among the most
needed and valuable improvements TO:
our country is liberalization Of forest
trees, yet it is very generally neglected.
A bountiful Providence has placed
within the easy reach of the people the
means by which the only defect of I'LL
exclusively prairie region may be over
come. Why, enough tree seeds grew in
Mobiles County last year to have pro-
duced trees enougl-if properly planted
and cultivated-to plant several acres
on every farm in the county yet nine
tenths went to waste. One Intelligent
gentleman, who has timber claim
within ten miles OF Worthington, told
me about sixty days ago, that he did
not know that white ash seed grew OH
tie trees abont the Okabena Lakes, and
S lowed evident surprise when l told
him that had gathered that day seed
enough to plant two or three acres.
Now let me ask the readers of the AD-
VANCE a question. How many people
would even think of leaving your beau
tiful country if every quarter section
had ten acres Of timber? "Wly, no.
body, Of course. That 5 the only trouble;
there is no timber in sight," Then be-
stir yourselves in this matter, for if the
country has but one fault, and you can
remedy that, you are worthy Of great
blame if you do not make the attempt.
But most people do not know much
about tree culture, and so many Il well
meant effort is all utter failure. Invest
.$1.50 in the best book that [ have yet
seen 'on the subject, viz: "Forpst
Trees,'7 by A. By;u,t (A. p. Miller
will order it for you), and in few days
you may learn a hundred facts of great
value III tree clatcre, then apply good
sense, labor, and perhaps Il small
amount Of money, and there will be no
farther complaint about cur trecless
plains. Perhaps there is Il lack of time
to do tile necessary work. Then you
must do without trees, | suppose, yet
one man, whose grove OF beautiful trees
is visible for miles around, Willie neigh
boring farms are treeless in comparison,
said to me, one day, that snucIl of the
work was done while others were asleep
or Oft to town. Trees should he ;,ropa-
gated from seeds or cuttings, as !, gem
eral rule, because they cost thus far less
than to purchase them ready for plant
ing, beside which there IS far less un-
certainty about their growing, as they
are likely to he handled less and to be
planted sooner after digging-tw0 inn
p0rtant items in this dryclimate.
Plant native trees, such us white ash.
and birch, till you have enough for fuel
and shelter, and then Other varieties
lnay claim attention. White willow
and some native varieties are also yalu-
able and are rapid growers.
We have just finished planting about
three pecks of white ash seed, that it
took perhaps thirty minutes last fall to
gather, and reasonably expect there
from twenty five or thirty thousand
trees, that by the middle of next Octo-
Der will be ready for transplanting, ut
i cost of about twenty-five cents per
thousand. SO you see that anybody,
will, i little effort, can have trees in
your county, for white ash seed grows
;sbaMdantly about the lakes, and it is as
npid u grower us any of our native
trees, except perhaps willow and cot
tonWoo0, but. vastly more valuable.
Another trouble is that trees are us,,-
ally planted too far apart-often from
eight to twelve feet.-and hence they
grow low and bnsl,y. Put'at least three
thousand trees to an acrea and there will
he less lateral and. more perrendicu],r
growth; hence better timber and more
Of it.. But l cannot ask farther space
to tell what can he 50 easily learned
from books within reach of all. hence
will close i'll haste. Yours. etc.
BRASHEAR.
A.little boy, going home from school
was~clarmed by a snake the other 6av.
near; IIokah.~ The boy WAS made quite
i'll by the charm. The serpent has lost
some Of his power since Ewes time.
but, he still seems to have power in
some Instances to bind the will of the
human ANIMAL. 49,.
Spcfinnal Name of Ntiupocot, for cola