Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-01-02

there are spots of "gumbs" or alkali soil
where, apparently, the surface soil ba(
been removed at some previous time, OF
which the trees make stunted growth
Fortunately, there is very little of thii
in the land we have planted, 80 tina
there is not an acre planted by Us tina
will fall short of the number of trees re
quired to fill the contract, and probably
not five acres on which there are moi
from twenty-five to twenty.six hundred
Our contract calls for two thousand tt
the acre. Tbs forest is in very healthy
and thrifty condition, and in every way
very promising for the future.
AS forests in this country is yet in its
infancy, and nearly everyone who has
given it but a passing thought has a
theory of his own, and looks mole to
ultimate results, and as one or more Of
these theorists have recommended the
pruning of these trees, 1 would here
urgently caution the company 60 that
they will not be led into this great mis-
take and very expensive experiment.
They were planted closely to avoid
the necessity of pruning. The trees will
prune each other, even the six-year-old
trees are now twenty feet high and have
their side branches already smothered
and dead up to overone-halftheir height,
80 that it would be great waste OF time,
if nothing worse, to prune them the first
ten feet from the ground; and it must be
apparent to any one that it would be
very costly to prune them up the next
ten feet for in three more years the
next ten feet will be pruned by the same
process as the first. The living side
branches are q great advantage to the
trees, support the trunk, fill up and
shade the space between the trees, shad-
ing out the weeds, and retaining the
moisture. The branches already dead,
and they are the only ones that could be
removed without actual damage to the
trees, would cost as much for pruning
and removing as the fall cost of furr ish-
ing the trees, planting and cultivating
them till the present time, viz, one and
one. half cent per tree.
These dead branches will fall of
gradually, so that when the trees are
sixty feet high they will show a trunk
forty feet without limb, and, as may be
seen in the native forests, the branches
will have decayed gradually and assisted
in furnishing nutriment for the living
trees.
These trees are making height so fast
that, on measurement, we found leading
shoots of this seasons growth on three
year-oId trees over feet long, and On
four-year- old feet long, showing that
they need all the living side branches
10 support the stem.
It is true that, to an ordinary observer
looking in among these trees, the dead
lower branches will have ragged ap-|
pearance, and aside from these there are
misshaped and crooked trees, but even
these are better left standing than if re-
moved, as they afford shade for the
trunks of adjoining trees.
There will always be "cull" trees in
the nursery, and such trees, even with
the best pruning, will still be culls.
Iwould not be understood as offering
the foregoing remarks as an apology; |
very far from it, as the plantation is |
success. This plantation is
on q larger scale than any other in the |
country (unless it be the one nearly
that we have recently planted
for Mr.. 81. II. HunnewelD; and l would
recommend that the trees be |
allowed to stand undisturbed to |
remove lhe branches that reach out into |
the forest roads-till the first planting
is at least ten or twelve years old; but |
in the meantime if fence posts be re-
luired within that time, they can be
thicned out as wanted, without damage
10 the plantation.
Iftrees are required for planting at
my of the stations of the company's |
road, or for park or other purposes,
thousands can be taken out of the three. |
vear-old trees, near the section house,
without injury to the plantation, and
they are OF the very best size and con-
1ition for that purpose. I would suggest
hat if they are required for any such |
purpose, an experienced man should be
to see to the proper digging |
md planting. as this would not only be
he most successful but the most econo-
MICA, way that the work could be done |
The above lot of trees were planted |
our feet apart each way.