The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1883-02-01
forssib sad Forestry In aloateomssy
County.

County.
Topeka Comno.-saIth
At the time the Government survey
was made, Montgomery county had
ten per cent Of wooded lands. As IL
GERS thought only of the present.
Magnificent black walnut trees have
been cut into fuel. rails. posts, or
used for timber i'm building barns
and shops. As went over the county
I heard Of coffee bean trees five feet
In diameter and eighty feet high be-
fore limb was reached, and black
walnut and oak trees still larger.
Such trees have disappeared.
But forest trees grow 30 rapidly in
our county that IL fires could be kept
from the growing timber, 1t would
probably increase as fast as il would
be required.
The unequal distribution of wood
lands, renders forestry q necessity
even in the most favored counties of
the state. The planting of forest trees
has received some attention i'm our
county, and where carefully attended
to, has proved successful.
Many farmers regret now that they
bad not planted more largely, while
others, seeing the success of their
neighbors. are preparing TO plant on
an extensive scale. No one need be
discouraged from making the at
tempt on account of the nature of
the soil. have seen trees grow ten
or twelve inches In diameter, the
growth of ten years, in sandy rocky
places where il would seem impossible
for tree to grow.
II: Nine years ago, q farmer planted
out about one hundred little red cedar
trees in the unbrOken prairie sod.
Though the soil has never been dis
are now fifteen or twenty feet high
and models of health and beauty.
Montgomery county has over one
hundred species Of native shrubs and
trees. About One-half Of that num-
Der attain size that renders them
valuable for timber or fuel.
We have at least ten species of oak,
five or six Of hickory, three Of ash,
two Of blackberry, two of elm, and
two Of maple. ! was pleased to find
u few sugar naples growing in the
southern part Of the county, ON the
bluffs near the Nerdigris river. Red
birch Is common along the streams in
the western part Of the county, SOME
time attaining "A diameter Of two feet
Red mulberry is common. Bass
wood is occasionally seen along the
rivers. but always in depauperated
/ have not seen fine
specimen Of the species i'm the county.
Sycamore, the buttonwooi Of the east,
IL common, and grows to large size. |
The persimmOn sometimes becomes q |
large tree, and grows almost every
where. Twospecies Of poplar. cotton
woods, are native in our county. The |
poplar and the silver
leaved are common i'm cultivation. |
The balm Of gilead, also q poplar, is
planted. Box elder, red |
bird sOapberry, species OF bumelia.
and three or four willows. about make
up the list Of our native trees, except |
The red cedar, which is not rare In
,ur county. Scotch pine aud Austrai-
ian pine take kindly to our soil and
climate, .and wherever planted are
healthy and vigorous.
Norway spruce and white gum are
planted, but do not appear
% thrive.
A long list of shrubs might be given,
many of them pretty, and worthy of
! place i'm the garden or lawn, but il
must be deferred for the present.
Forestry is an important interest i'm
'ur state, and the people need a gen
raj waking To the advantages, as well
. to the necessity of preserving the
Orests we have, and extending their
Irea by natural and artificial plant
ng.
II our new governor. i'm his wisdom,
will designate an "Arbor Day." and
ur local agricultural and hOrticul-
ural societies and associations, for
ity and village improvements, will
end their aid to make tree-planting
an interest and enthusiasm
hus awakened will soon line the
treets of our cities and villages with
rees. and plant them i'm every lawn
nd doOr-yard of the state. And
When the importance of tree-plant-
ny Is understood and appreciated ev-
'ry farm will have its groves and belts
{ trees. +. n. PLANK.
The New York Tribune makes note
4 the fact that even i'm defeat, eX-GOv.
Il. John is to be hOnOred with u signal
Next month he is to visit
Boston, and arrangements are now
ctively being made for giving him
most imposing public reception. The
vent will occupy the entire day and
vening of Washington's Birthday,
nd the large building Of the Massa-
husetts Mechanics association on
avenue, is to be given up
0 it. The committee arrangements
Includes Ex-Governor Long, Lieuten-
Ames, and the Hon.
iessrs. X. II. Bishop, +. S. Tobey,
robert Treat Paine, jr., +. s. Con-
erse, ID. w. Gooch, Joseph A. Har-
rood and Others. The Governors of
II the New England States, and their
tafis, will be among the invited
uests. The programme includes
n afternoon children's entertainment
Or which 10000 tickets will be dis
ributed i'm the public schools, and In
he evening a concert opened by a
hOrus of welcome written for the &C.
aston and performed by an orchestra
{ fifty and chorus of 600. The ad-
ress of welcome will be made by ex-
Governor Long, and st. John will de-
yer an Grafton. covering the history
the three years temperance CAM
aign in Kansas.