The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-09-15
SHADY PASTURES.
The Most Desirable Trees for Planting -
GRASSLAND to Produce Shade.

GRASSLAND to Produce shade
Nearly every farmer on the ''treeless
prairies" expects a. some time to have
trees in his pastures to afford shade for
his cattle. sheep, horses and hogs. He
knows that they are essential to the
comfort Of his stock, and that comfort,
as well as food, water and salt, are
necessary for the formation of milk,
wool and flesh. Still, they are likely
to delay the planting Of them till they
have erected convenient buildings,
have broken most of the ground that
they will require for cultivated crops,
and have set out trees for producing
fruit. Had they spent two or three
days in procuring and setting out trees
on their pastures when they first moved
on their places they might have had
sufficient shade for their stock by the
time they had completed their other
improvements. Some, who delay plant
ing trees in pastures till after they have
occupied their places several years, set
out varieties that make very slow
growth, plant them in places not favor
able to them, afford them no protec-
ton, neglect to prune them properly,
and thus delay the time that their ami
mails will have the advantage of shade.
The best trees that can be planted
for. affording shade in pastures arc
those that are hardy, stately, that have
'wide-spreading branches, and which
cast dense shade during the hottest
portions of the summer. Those which
grow quickly and can be propagated
by means of sprouts and cuttings are
to be preferred. Every one has OBJ
served that soft-wood trees grow much
more rapidly than those that produce
hard wood, and that nearly all Of them
Succeed best on land that is somewhat
low and moist. One of the best trees
for moderately moist land is the Amer
lean linn, or common Eastwood. Tho
tree is beautiful in all stages of its
growth. 1t is very hardy and attains
large size. Insects are not likely to
injure its roots, trunk or leaves. Its
leaves are of remarkable size, thick
and OF an agreeable, green color. 1t
casts a very dense shade, which is
agreeable during the hot days of mid
summer. 1t is very clean tree and
highly ornamental. If the trees are
isolated and stand in suitable locations
they ordinarily have very wide spread
ing branches. Sometimes several
trunks will grow close together and
present very beautiful appearance.
The sycamore, buttonwOod or "but-
ten-boll tree is another excellent
tree for Land that is somewhat
moist 1t is one of the largest
trees found on this side of the
Rocky mountains. Along the banks
of the Mississippi river and its
tributaries it often attains the height
of eighty feet, and has trunk from
six to ten feet in diameter. The tree
is possessed of great vitality. If the
trunk becomes hollow living shell re-
mains around the cavity which pro-
tracts the life Of the branches. These
hollow trunks were utilized by the
early settlers Of many of the Western
States for grain bins, smokc-houses
and shelter for fowls and pigs. Hol.
low sycamore trunks have afforded
shelter to many families Of Western
pioneers The trees can be easily
propagated by seed or ripe wood cut.
tings of either one or two-year-old
wood cut late in the spring or early in
the fall The wood Is very hard 10
split, quickly decays and is of very lit
tie value for timber or fuel Sections
of large trunks make good blocks for
cutting meat. The tree, however, it
Of very little value except for orna-
ment, and shade. but for these pur-
poses it 10 very desirable. o.
For higher land the silver leaf poplar
has many advantages. 1t is readily
propagated to cuttings, grows rapidly
and attains large size, while its
branches extend over . large space,
\ and afford q; good shade. The tree is
healthy, not liable to be injured by in
sects, and attains large size. A few
Of these trees on a farm serve'a useful
purpose by, way of ornament. The
wood makes excellent fuel. The tree,
however, is very Objectionable in one
respect. If its roots are broken or dis.
turbed they throw up large
number of suckers that are very
hard to kill or keep in subiec-
ton. In planting in a permanent
pasture, however, this proneness to
throw up sprouts from the roots is
not likely 10 prove serious objection.
If the sod over the roots remains un.
broken the suckers will not appear as
they do on land that is plowed every
year. The silver poplar is an import
ed tree, and we are inst finding on,
what it is good for When first IN.
troduced it was planted in lawns,
gardens and on the sides of streets in
large towns. the numerous sucker,
thrown up in land that was cultivat ID
condemned it for these places. 1t is,
however, an excellent tree for produc.
ing shade in pastures and for aflordina
fuel.
The common cottonwood or white
wood possesses most of the advan.
tages of the Eastwood and sycamore
but in an inferior degree. 1t is not a,
beautiful. and does not produce $,
dense shade. When the trees SIAN,
at some distance from each other ant
are kept properly pruned they ar,
lquite attractive, and serve as .orna
ments to well-kcpt grounds. All the>,
trees are mentioned because they AT,
easily propagated and grow quickly
Naples, slms, birches, beeches ant
hickories are far more valuable fol
most purposes, and most of them at
ford good shade. 1t is necessary
however, to raise the trees from seed
to purchase them from nurscrymen. I,
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