Arizona citizen., 1878-01-25
Growing Willow Trees

TIE CITIZEN deems the growth of
 trees important in many aspects as af
 fecting the prosperity of Arizona. Last
 week, we referred to the experience of
 Jesse " Fell for a company in Iowa,
 and of his decided preference for the
 willow tree. We here present Mr.
 Fells method of culture:
 As to the best method of planting
 the cuttings, and their culture, but lit l tie nee be said. A a rule, the larger
 the cuttings and the nearer they are
 obtained the better. The ground should
 be well prepared, as for a crop of corn,
 the deeper the blowing the better; and
 where practicable have It done in the fall. For general planting by the acre, l 1 lay off the ground with light mark
 CT four feet both ways, SD IS to admit of ] easy cultivation. Instead, however, of ! sticking cuttings in all the rows, 1 stick
 Tn one-half only of the rows,-those, if IcOnvenienL running north and south,
 -planting corn or potatoes in the al- iternate rows, SD that the trees will stand four feet in the rows north and south, by eight ftet east and west Con 1 itinue the cultivation two pr three years, | according to their growth. The cut ItinUS should be at least len inches long, and pushed into the ground, If needs
 be, with what I call a poke, an i'm ] plement consisting of a round piece Of light wood. having a lhree-fOuIth inch auger hole bored endwise in one end. with @ string connecting the other end
 with the wrist " ith thIs, where neces Sary, push he cutting into the ground till the top is not more than two or three inches above the surface after the ground around it has been tramped. Cultivate as for corn keeping the ground clean and loose, and the growth can not but be satisfactory At from four
 10 five years old, according to growth one half the trees should be cut away, so as tO make d permanent forest, or planting, eight feet apart both ways. At this distance apart, both from eN perience and observation, here and in Pennsylvania, 1 find tN willow will grow into trees large enough 10 be split into fence-rails. (And just here l
 may remark that no wood-the chest nut not eXcepted-splils SO smooth and
 strai rht as the willow, which, by the Ryay, is in striking contrast with the co,tonwoOd).
 At this stage in the growth of the forest or hcdge-row-the planting and culture of the latter being varied only
 by the distance apart of the cuttings there will be a large amount of timber and poles to be cut away, which can
 be worked up as flel, fencing, or in
 new hedging, or forest paintings made m this way: Flow and harrow, as al ready stated; then strike out with a blow. making the furrows from four tO
 six inches deep; take the willow poles, the larger the betler,-straighten them if needs be by cutting half or all off, and lay them lengthwise and straight
 in the furrows, bringing the tips in close contact Then, with a span Of horses striding the furrOw, and a blow, cover up with a good furrow. If prac- tieable. let this be done in the fall. October or November In the sprlug following, with the back of hoe re- move the earth wherever you wan a
 tree, just enough to let in the light This will develop the bud, no matter
 where you strike lhe pole, and the growth will be much more rapid than ! from an ordinary cutting. The bal ance of the pole kept m the dark will
 throw out roots, giving the plants a
 most vigorous growth. At Llrchwood
 we have this year growths thus in duced that have sprung up from the ground more than SIX feet, and very strong and stocky at that. Those plant
 ed or laId down in the spring should of course be immediately uncovered,
 where the sprouts are intended 10 start.