The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-07-01
PLANTING TREES.
How Land May BE Prepared for Setting
Out Trees with Little Trouble
Expense.

The reason farmers in the newly
settled states and territories of the north
west do not plant more trees for shade,
protection, and ornament are numerous.
Many do not have the money to buy the
young trees TO plant, and they do not
know how to raise them from seeds and
cuttings. A large number think that
they must be planted out in the spring
to insure their living and a vigorous
growth, and they are then too busy
with preparing their ground for crop
and with sowing and planting to at
tend to the matter. Still others think
that all the land that is to be devoted
TO trees must be put in the same condi-
ton it is for crop of corn or small
grain before the trees are planted, and
that it then must be cultivated as corn
ground is for quite number of years.
Having much to DO in improving their
places, they delay planting trees for
protection against the wind, producing
shade. and affording ornament for
many years. Had they planted trees at
the time they commenced to improve
their places, their farms would have
presented very fine appearance in the
course of eight or ten years. The trees
would have been of good size by the
time buildings were completed, fences
were erected, and the native sod SUBJ
dued.
Some kinds of trees,-as ash. catalpa,
and maple,-doubtless do best when set
in land that has been well worked for
number of years, and which is cult
waited, much as corn is, for several years
H. -, L.
1t is certain that most kinds of trees do
not do well when set in ground covered
with growing sod. The roots of grass
are very vigorous, and they take the
moisture and nutriment from the soil
which young trees require. Large trees
that have become well established send
their roots into the soil far beyond the
point reached by the roots of grass, and
grow well even if there is d strong sod
above their roots. The roots Of grass,
however, come in competition with
those of small trees and prevent them
from making a vigorous growth.
Especially is this the case when the
young trees have been taken from a
well-cultivated nursery There the
roots have not had to fight their way
through a hard soil, occupied by the
roots of grass. They have had a chance
to appropriate all the moisture and
plant food which the soil contains. In
removing them many of the roots are
broken off, or injured so that they are
in bad condition to grow unless the
soil into which they are transplanted is
loose and free from grass.
1t is not necessary, however, to sub
due all the sod on land that is to be
partially devoted to trees intended for
furnishing fuel affording protection
against winds, and producing shade.
Neither is it necessary to cultivate all
the land occupied by the trees after they
are set out. Larch, cottonwood, elm,
Eastwood. birch, poplar, and willow
trees appear to do best in soil that is left
undisturbed by the piow and cultivator
after they have been set out. The roots
of some of these trees are quite near the
surface of the ground, and if a plow or
cultivatOr is run near them they are cut
off or injured. If broken or bruised
they will throw up sprouts which will
serve to diminish the growth of the
parent trees, thus forming dense mass
of underbrush that is nearly useless for
any purpose. A forest or grove that is
somewhat open is most desirable. If
the ground is covered by a smooth
green sod it viii present very fine APP
pearance, and be oi considerable value
for pasture purposes. 1t will be an
agreeable retreat for fowls during warm
weather, and the tender grass will
afford them excellent food. An open
grove Is an excellent place for raising
chickens, as they are protected from the
sun.
Ordinarily trees should stand eight
feet apart in q grove. If they are
planted along the side Of a road or in
rows on the side of Il field or pasture
they should be still further apart. The
sod in the places where they are to be
planted can be subdued without using
the breaking plow or spade. If covered
during three months to the thickness of
q few inches with old hay, straw, COW
manure, or muck the grass roots will
be completely killed and the sod put in
such condition that it can be readily
worked with a spade. 1t is much easier
to kill the grass roots by the use of a
mulch than by inverting the sod, and
the ground will be in better condition
for the planting. Any time during the
coming fall or next spring the holes can
be dug and the trees set out. If the
grass is killed within the circumference
of a circle four or five feet in diameter
the trees planted near the middle will
grow quite as well as they would if all
the sod had been subdUed. The ma
terial that was employed to kill the
grass can be thrown TO one side when
the holes are dug, and placed over the
surface after the trees are planted,
where it will serve as q mulch.