The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-02-13
How to Plant Tree Claims.


At the solicitation of some of my
friends, who know of my experience in
handling forest trees, I have been in
duced to give a few practical ideas as
to the way tree claims ought to be
planted. Most planters upon entering
their claims have not the remotest idea
of what kind of trees they ought to
plant or how they had best set to work
to perform the operation of planting to
the best advantage. This article may
be the means of helping some one toa
proper and practical solution of what
to them has been quite a problem, and
if so [ will be glad. .""
The law requires that ten acres on
each quarter section must be set with
trees, and the distance is to be four by
four feet apart. This makes the num-
Der OF trees necessary to each claim
amount to $1,000. or 300 to each
acre. The land should be broken up
at least one year before the time
the trees are to be set out, and ii
two years before, and a crop taken off,
it would be much better for the trees
and greatly lessen the labor of both
planting and culture. After the ground
is all freshly ploughed in the spring, it
should be marked of with a four-line
marker, each running to be exactly
four feet from the other. These marks
should be run as straight and carefully
as though they were for corn, and must
be u both ways. Then take a turn
ing plough, drive the team SO that the
plough will make o furrow in exact line
with the mark, having the land side
next to it, as a guide for the trees to be
set by. In these burrows the roots of
the trees are to be set, being placed
opposite each cross mark made by the
marker when it went across the field.
Two men, or one man and a boy, is all
the help necessary to set out q tree
claim after the ground is all prepared
and the burrows made. Set q tree up
straight, with it's roots in the bottom of
the furrow, which would make it about
right depth, and have o man with a clean
bright spade, SO it will scour
easily, throw on dirt enough to
cover the roots; hold the tree
in its place while you pack the earth
above them by stepping on with both
feet. Then pass along to the next
mark and set a tree there, and in the
same manner the whole field can be
planted, both easily and expeditiously.
The next operation, after there are o
number of rows planted, is to run ove1
the rows with o two-horse cultivate,
and fill in the burrows, or if no cnltiva-
tor is at hand, take o double-shovel
plough and one horse, turning back the
loose earth thrown out by the big
plough; or, being careful not to throw
too strong a furrow against the trees,
the big plough a be used for filling
up.
1t will be necessary, after the burrows
are filled in around the trees, to go ovel
the ows and tramp around each tree
again and straighten it up If the dirt
knocked it over. This constitutes the
which should be begun early; in fact
the cyltivator ought to be run over the
rows soon after planting; so as to fill il
some loose earth around the trees anG
over the hard-packed surface about theil
stems.
A few words more as to how best tc
care for the trees between the 1nterva
of their arrival and the time all are set
and how to keep them from starting out
leaves before you get time to plant all O
them, will close this article.
Unpack the trees on arrival, loosen
them out of the branches and dig G
trench to bury the roots in. Pack The
earth solidly over the trenched roots
the tops having meanwhile been lait
nearly fat to the surface. If you feal
they will start leaves too soon for you
throw a few inches of loose earth ovel
the tops, which Will keep the buds back
and do no injury for Il week or so unit
you can get them planted. Give the
trees good culture and they will grow
and do we'll, provided they are careful
ly handled. In planting keep each kline
separate, and before they are taken on
to the field wet the roots thoroughly
and keep them out of the Jul and wine
as much as possible.
The planting of these trees SHOULD
not be solely for the purpose of getting
a title to a quarter section of good land
but should be made with q view to flu
ture value and usefulness; Therefore
good kind Of trees should be planted ,ant
the ground not taken up with inferio
stock. Silver naples, ash, box elder
or ash leaf maple, hardy catalpa, black
walnut, and American white elm are al
good kinds, and are transplanted so cas-
lily and successfully that they are adapt
ed to all parts of the country, and thi
fact greatly aids the successful planting
of tree claims. The above sorts are al
rapid growers. The black walnut j
an especially valuable tree, and Their
should be q liberal lot of this nobl
species on every claim and every farm
Charles S. Rowley in Rural World