New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-26
oNTHE PLAINS.
vo,n,c roprcTe IN EASTERN KANSAS.

A THOUSAND ACRES OF CATALPAs IN I"o fAAN
TATIoNs-TREE. CULTURE sYsTEMAIlzED Nio
A PROFESSION.
IRON AN CAsIoSAL CORRESPONDENT OF The ihii
GIRARD, Crawford County, Kan, req "
II has teen demonstrated that syViculture can DC ~
profitable ia the Eastern states, but the lanu "
yaIuabe and so completely occupied that ventures LII
planting must be conducted on o comparatively S"
scale. The sandy reaches near the coast oner IN. '
practicable opportunity for clothing hhkeu ianu w ~
thousand acres with protecting tree growth But o ~
broad praries there yet to establish forests VI
great extent or course the settlers mere unuoiS'a
their wants in this direction. One who was porn IN
land OF woods and mountains needs only to be smten Dy
winter wind that has gathered velocity rs IL b"oP'
miles OF frozen prairie, to feel an nSa1aoio "Hss
the shelter OF q wood. 1t IL understood t"o 'nA' w
DAYS OF cheap lumber to end, and cheap unoor
has been almost important factor In peopnnH Ineo
regions "a cheap land The belts Of timber along the
water courses arc narrow TO furnish sny lasuns
supply and the quality Ia as poor as tue qu"n'S %
scant Everyone knows that wood is prime necessary
10 civilized man. and admits that supplies shouiu do pro
pared for the coming generation and even for tnose OF
the present generation VINO do not fall prey to untmoy
death Therefore there Inns been more tax ana
about couture In tho West than In the East Inc
Timber Culture act tho result OF western
and the failure this act to accomplish any goou ~
occasion OF moro talk and agitation But after all thoro
has not vet been found time to do much while TOO many
N"~~
failure. a.
Ono great cause OF disappointment has been dsro-
gard OF the wel-known law that trees VIII not go"
where the rainfall does not reach certain annual aver
age. Forests only be planted successfully oh '"o
eastern side OF the moist meridian line which separates
the treeess plain from the prairie region proper vi
the borderand whore the conditions OF wet and dry are
40 nicely balanced that with the help OF man the forest
can get foohod and after hold its own there " M up
proprlae field for enterprise OF this SORT IL Is 80 uc
| gan-lt marks clear conquest over ha'uro "noio'
the forest frontier is advanced But on this debaaoc
ground and still further eastward where the ia OIL ram
"a aune and certain there have been many failures In
most cases OF this sort seeding forest trees have been
left to struggle for mastery with the strong prairie
grasses unt they finally smothered by long pos
session these gras have attained such vigorous root
hold that they make stubborn fight against any invad
er, and until they suppressed the young trees IN
their weakness must be helped In the most successful
practice the tough sod broken In June and cross
ploughed tho fall for wheat crop the ollowhg year
The next the spring following the grouhu Is
ready for the trees-tht Is eighteen months OF TWO
years from breaking OF the sod This seems lSe
long time to walt before beginning. but two years Is
abort space I'm the life OF tree and the two years VIII DE
more than made up In the size and gor OF the tree ne
fore is ten feet high II may be said however hat
| Mr. Robert Douglas experienced western planter
IL OF the opinion, based on experiments during tno
past year. that prairie IS broken here soon AFTER
the mdde OF May. just as the young grass Is MAKING
its first thrifty growth fun years time can be saved
In h, experiments the land ploughed second time
early in the autumn. turning the burrows In tho same
direction but cutting deeper and at planting time the
| whole was IN excellent condition.
TWO THRIVING PLANTATIONS.
In thIs neighborhood there two plantations which
sec 70 prove that under intelligent management sue
cess Is reasonably certain The plantations are each OF
about 500 acres aud notcworthy for many reasons
! one OF them IS tho property OF Mr. H. H. HunnlwclL
| Boston capitalist. Tho trees have been planted as an
Investment and although tho forest cannot prove I'm
rnedat.ly rcmuncratye It bids fair yield enormous
oro0t, I'm the future The other enterprise Ia conducted
an the same pnu by the Fort Scott and Gulf Railroad
| Company primarily 10 furnish ties and timber Tor is
| own use. The millions OF slcepers which are needed
every year by the roads crossing the teecss area rem
dcrs absolutely necessary TO make some such pToVi-
sion for the future The planting OF trees on large scale
by ralrond companies. especially by roads which nave
ample land grants natural and proper that opera
ons OF this sort frequently been undertaken but
owing to carclessnc-s or Ignorance In selecting tue
ground or IN choosing varieties or 10 improper INGENIOUS
az plnnting and management most OF the earlier ven
,rs tcallted ia Io.- encouragement aud final ahnn-
d,,ueut Tho success OF these experiments In Eastern
Kansas ought 10 stimulate other companies and capital
III, TO new Efforts. and landowners Of small means ~
adopting similar methods can soon double the value OF
their property, while al the same time they can "d
materially 10 the comfort and prosperity Of their neigh
To- both those case. contract, were made with Robert
| r,~i,, & gons az Wnukegnn H. who grow forest
.cuu,,. by the million not 10 furnish u certain number
M tecs not even plant them nj given distances apart
% 1t, ,.,,,ter q, ocr,s hit IN prepare tho
round plant tho tree, aud care for them until they
o,sin certain height and completely shade the ground
ho, they can care for Themselves. THIS nsres intel
unt care for the trees during the most critical period
Of their rowh and the land owner Is at no charge until
firmly established wood able 10 sustain Itself and choke
IL 1tufN fhe RINK
prnrie grasses "a turned over 20 him These particular
contracts call for at lcns 2oOG trees six feet hr 10 th'
acre-a deduction being made for every tree below this
nupier on any given mere After careful breaking and