Milford chronicle., 1883-02-16
Tree Planting.

The subject of tree-planting is now
being pressed upon the settlers of West
ern Minnesota and Dakota. Belts Of
timber have been substituted for pine
fences as windbreaks along the exposed
portion of the line of the st. Paul, Mime
apolis and Manitoba Railway, and it is
said that the Northern Pacific Road is
also about to test the efficiency of live
fences to protect its track on the prairie
from snow-drifts. A pine fence, such as
the Western railroads have been using,
costs about $500 a mile. The fence, to
serve its purpose, must be at least eight
feet high, and even such a one, stoutly
built and with oak posts, is not suf-
ficient barrier against the drifts in a
winter so severe as the present. More
over, the boards are frequently stolen
and the strongest posts are liable to
snap like twigs under the force of
prairie wind-stOrm. Mr.. Leonard
Hodges, who superintended the tree
planting along the st. Paul and Manito-
ba Road and is also to have charge of
the same work on the Northern Pacific,
advises the planting of two parallel belts
Of young timber on the northern side of
he tracks and one belt ON the southern
side. The white willow he has found to
to be the cheapest and hardest tree for
he purpose. A fence of this willow will
grow to an average height of twelve feet
in four years from the time of planting
the cuttings. The soil, however, has to
be prepared for planting and narrowing, |
and sometimes the prairie soil is so bad |
that two or three years must be spent in /
preparing it, but the result is thought to /
be worth the labor. Other hardy trees |
recommended for the purpose above
mentioned are the box-elder, the cotton
wood and the green ash. But not only
the railroad companies, but the settlers
themselves, are awakening to the neces-
sity of tree-planting. There is a good
foundation in the theory that the plant
ng of forest trees on the prairies Of the
Northwest will do much to lessen the
rigor of the climate in that atneighborbood
The cold, fierce winds that sweep down
from British Columbia in winter would
have their force broken if they en-
extensive forests, and there
would be less suffering from periodical
droughts if there were trees
to condense the moisture in the atmos-
phere. The recent formation of forestry
clubs, and the active interest in the sub
iect which appears to be taken among the
North western settlers, are more decided
indications that the treeless regions are j
in time to be planted with forests, than ]
-he enactment Of hundred laws to ac- y
that end by State Legislatures. t
Meanwhile the prairie soil must be en-
'iched and the trees given time to grow, Il
md the ruthless work of the woodman's
TX must be kept within reasonable
pounds in the existing forests East and c
Vest.
A MARRIAGE ceremony came to an alb i
upt and ludicrous termination the other
lay in Atlanta, Ga \ prominent clergy n
nan of that city, having consented to +
mite a colored couple, had just ask,
he solemn question, "Wilt thou take %
his woman ?" ETC., when an old flame of
he bridegroom poked her head into the CT
oom and said: Henry, I jess dar you sa
0 say yes" Henry sank into the nearest a.,
hair without word, and the company pl
Withdrew.
All about the muff A muff Is de- l.
cribed as a thing that holds a girls hand
nd doesn't squeeze it. This definition is fte
lmost correct. Tile Jitdge.