The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1878-01-31
For the EAGLE
TREE CULTURE IN THE ARKANSAS VAL
LEY.
For the EAGLE
BY DIR. S. NJ. MERRILL.

iapiuiy approaching, IL Woulu DC wen
for the farmer to make all his plans,
arrangements and preparations for
planting out all such trees as he de-
signs to set the coming spring, and
make them early. On vast, almost
treeless and elevated plateau, like the
one we occupy, with the few scanty
and narrow belts of timber that skirt
the larger streams, set entirely below
the general level of the country, it be-
comes matter of the greatest i'm
portance to plant trees with two gen.
eral objects in view. And for gener-
al planting give us that great indigo
nous prouct of the western plains, the
cottonwood, or Populus Commuais
Amertcdna.
We regard this wonderfully hardy
and thrifty specimen of the poplar
family as the very best tree that
grows upon the western plains. 1t is
propagated with the utmost ease; is
as easily cultivated as corn or pota-
toes; distances all other timber in ra-
pidity of growth, becoming tree by
the time most other kinds have fairly
started to grow; and for many kinds
of rough timber, such as fencing.
frame timber for the inside of build
ings, ETC., is equal or superior to pine
Its propagation Cuttings by all
means. In addition TO the great saw
ing of time and labor, the cuttings, if
properly planted and cared for, for a
year or two, will soonest make good
sized tree. We know trees grown in
this way from cuttings set in the gar
den by the children, that at three
years old measured three and even
| four inches in diameter six inches
above the ground-and we measured
them ourself and ought to know. And
we know them to be larger than two
year old trees which were set one or
two years earlier.
On Mr.. wilkins farm, three miles
west of town, Is an avenue of these
trees leading from the house TO the
road. [ have been informed that
these trees are only five years old,
though one person claimed that they
were seven. In passing the place one
day last summer, measured one of
these trees near the road and found it
10 be one foot in diameter, which is
large enough even for a seven-year
old tree.
Large trees, when transplanted, for
the first two years have their young
cots so much disturbed by the action
of the wind upon their tops that the
trees themselves get 4 very serious
check in their growth, from which
they are long time in recovering.
But young trees, grown from cuttings,
incur no sush injury. If set in March
or early in April the ends of the cut
tings will be nearly or quite covered
with new wood by the last of May,
and young roots formed several inches
in length. And these young roots are
never disturbed Such trees will
make growth of from three to seven
feet in hcish the first season.
The best time for preparing the cut
tings is from this time till the first of
March. Cut from young trees. Make
the cuttings from twelve to sixteen
inches in length, and, tying them in
bundles of 100 each tor convenience,
put them in a place where they will
keep moist without freezing. Plant
early. Don't wait till wood and roots
begin to form The best distance to
plant is four feet. This is more con-
venicnt in cultivaiing, and insures a
good stand, though there is very lit
tie trouble in this respect, since plant
ed and cared for properly ninety to
one hundred per cent. will grow. The
ground will allow them to grow well
at that distance for the first three
years at which time the young trees
may begin to be cut for timber and
fencing And from that age until
they are ten years old they may con-
tinue to be thinned out for these pur-
poses, as the trees that are designed
to remain standing shall need room to
grow, until at the end of that period, |
when they ought to stand twelve feet |
apart each way, or over 800 trees to |
the acre In the meantime the owner
has cut over 1000 young trees from
each acre of land, if he has kept them
properly thinned out. as lit requires
about $500 trees TO set an acre four
feet apart each way. The 300 trees,
if only one foot in diameter each at
the end of ten years, allowing four
trees to make a cord, which is the
amount usually estimated, would pro-
luce seventy-five cords of wood per
acre. Or allowing eight trees to the
cord, they would yield tbirty-seyen
md one-half cords per acre. Such
Young timber, standing uncut, is
worth two dollars per cord, or S75 to
800 per acre, which is from seven to
Ell dollars per acre per annum for the
Use of the land besides the young
wood that has already been removed
rom it, and this too at the smallest
possible outlay, as the trees need no
cultivation after the second year.
Mr.. Isaac Roberts, living in the edge
# Butler county, last year put out
wo acres, planting them four feet
ach way and cultivating them as
orn, only twice. Nearly all of them
re standing, and make splendid
how. He stated to me that the prep
ration of the cuttings required about A.,
days time for himself and boys. He
Fill put out enough more next season
o fill up lot of five or six acres
Thich he has hcdged in and will use
fter while as run for hogs and
attic. His neighbor, Mr.. Eli Long is ,
a lot of twelve acres to be
sed for the same purposes. After
yhile, when the trees have got well
tarted, sow to clover for the use Of
he hogs. This indicates foresight. :
Every farmer needs large open lot :
Or stock to run in, especially hogs,
nd the value of such lot is greatly
by the presence of the trees ,