The Red Cloud chief., 1886-03-12

Persons interested in the production
nj trees common 70 Dur forests will do
well to plant those kinds that are val.
liable Tor several purposes. Shelter
belts are wanted on all prairie farms,
and the general practice is to plant
those varieties of trees that can be OBJ
tanned for the least money and trouble.
In many cases cottonwoods, willows.
and poplars are planted TO break the
force of the wind, chiefly because they
can be obtained near the place where
they are wanted, can be bought at q
low price, are quite certain 10 live after
thew are transplanted. and will make q
very quick growth. At but little more
trouble and cost a shelter-belt may be
formed that will be valuable for other
than breaking the force OF our
violent winds. We can substitute for
the cottonwood, willow. and poplar the
b~utternut, black walnut, hickory, and
beech. To this list Of nut producing
trees we can add the white oak, and for
portions of the country where the cli-
mate is suited to their growth the pecan
and chestnut. All these trees are state
", hardy, strong, and long-lived. Once
established, they will continue to grow
for centuries. None of them are likely
10 be overturned. or broken by the
strongest winds. Their somewhat slow
growth while they are young constitutes
the only objection to them.
They form excellent sh~elter-belts.
They are highly ornamental. and after
they are of a size to sustain barbed-
wire will be excellent substitutes for ce-
dar-pOsts in forming a fence. The
branches which are removed in pruning
will make good fuel. As OOn as they
are Of an age and size to produce nuts
they will be constant sources Of pleasure
and profit. Edible nuts take a high
rank among the luxuries, and they may
be produced on every farm almost with.
out cost or trouble. Few things add
more to the comfort of the home during
the winter than a supply of nuts. If
more are produced than are wanted for
home consumption they can be readily
sold to farmers who have no nut trees
and 10 village people. During several
years there has been a large demand
for nuts for planting in the far western
states and territories. There has even
been a considerable demand for them
TO send to England and some countries
on the continent of Europe. A Mis-
souri, farmer states that for a series Of
yeas he has derived more money from
the sale of nuts that grew on a forty.
acre tract of native hickory and walnut
trees than from the corn produced on the
same number of acres. The former
cost nothing but for harvesting, while
the latter requires the labor of a man
and team during the entire season.
All the nut-prOducing trees mentioned
furnish excellent timber and very val.
liable fuel. If it is necessary to cut
down a tree ut any stage OF its growth
because it stands too close to others or
has received an injury; its wood be-
comes valuable for timber or fuel. Nut
producing trees are rs desirable for
planting in groves or along the sides OF
roads as for forming shelter belts. Oi
bate tho black walnut has received
much attention at the hands Of tree
planters, but the claims of the butternut
or white walnut have generally been
overlooked. The like is true in relation
to the hickory, which is n of the most
beautiful as well rs one of the most
useful of our native trees. The beech
has been neglected and the impression
has been created that it will. not thrive
on prairie soils. 1t is a very valuable
tree, and there is good reason for be.
lieving that it will grow on any land
that produces oaks. Beech nuts are
very easily obtained, and they germin.
ate almost as easily rs grains Of corn.
The trees present a very fine appear.
ance. whether growing by themselves
or with trees that have dropping
branches, with which they make a very
Sfrikinp contrast = CHic0OO Times