The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-09-18
Fuel for the Prairies of the West.


A territory larger than New York and
PENNSYLVANIA, including part of Mis-
souri,, Kansas, Colorado, Indian Terri
tory and Northwestern Texas, is practi-
callv treeieSS, as far aS fuel for the future
owners Of the many fertile quarter-sec-
tons is concerned With some 10 years
close observation over much of the ter
ritorv, | make a few suggestions to those
contemplating settling on the plains.
First, for fuel, each Occupier of
" claim - (quarter-section) should plant,
say, half bushel of peach seeds as soon
as possible. They should have lain out
of doors or been buried the previous
winter, or they will be Il year coming
up. Plow, in last years breaking, fur
rows eight feet apart, then drop seeds
every four feet and turn under, and plant
corn in alternate rows. Carefully cul-
tivate two or three years, and then they
will care for themselves. But if the
seedlings are put eight feet each way,
and budded with very choice varieties
very low down, so that the bud may take
root below the ridge made by plOughing,
a big pay will be secured for few min
utes' work, as a fine Crawford Early or
Hill Home Chief CD is much better for
the pigs, or children-and a kansan
should keep both on hand-than the
little sour seedlings that cost nothing
and are dear at that. Any man intelli-
gent enough to be a pioneer, can learn
to bud in ten minutes, and by practice
can bud 200 to 500 day during June,
July or August.
In the first five acres one should plant,
80 feet each way, in place of peach
trees, his future apple and pear or cherry
orchard. The peach trees protect
against wind and sun till the others get
a start. DOnt't trim a peach tree or
transplant one. At the end of five years,
cut them at the ground in February and
cover the stumps with earth. You have
in each tree days fire for stove in the
coolest weather, and by fail you will
have fine growth that in three years
will duplicate the first timber crop,
when they should be grubbed out of the
apple orchard, which will then be able
to take care of itself. The fuel grove
can be cut every three years, or, by cut
ting one-third each winter, it will last
an unknown period. Dry peach wood
is as good as corn for fuel, and the fruit
is very good for pigs and children.
For the first two or three years the
borers will be troublesome in the apple
trees. Travelling tree peddlers will sell
you a recipe for So that will give good sat
isfaction, and will kill both the insect and
the tree, likely. A wash made of wood
ashes and water, put on in June, July
and August, each month, will kill the
larvae and help the tree. The same wash
applied to your peach trees will save
You trouble.
For permanent timber, the bOiS dare,
or common Usage orange hedge plant, is
the best timber for all purposes south of
4O7. A ten or fifteen-acre lot set 10 feet
each way with orange, pecan, black wal
nut, ash and maple, surrounded by a
belt, 80 feet wide, of cottOnwoods D feet
apart, viii in a few years be very con-
venient and valuable. The catalpa and
coffee bean are of quick growth and af-
ford valuable timber, but sprout wher-
ever root is cut so badly that they are
Objectionable All nut-bearing trees, as
the pecan, walnut, oak, hickory or chest
nut, should be planted where they are to
grow, as the cutting of the tap-root ruins
the tree. Timber culture means just
what corn culture means-judicious
work and plenty of it. Peach trees are
the cheapest and best for fuel, but many
raise cottonwoods because they have no
misgivings about cutting them down, as
they have with regard to fine fruiting
peach. Apple trees need the protection
of a grove until four or five years old,
when they will take care of themselves
aud bear very superior fruit. The bois
'arc-Osage Orange-grows rapidly,
works like oak timber and will last like
black locust Pecan, walnut. oak and
chestnut grow slowly at first, but when
about five years old, grow as fast rs any
tree. Maple does well, but is not valua-
bic for timber. Lombardypopla grows
very fast and is about as good as cotton
wold for fuel.-Judgc Walton, in the Ru-
"a. NeU Yorker.