Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-08-26
FARM MANAGEMENT.
The Most Desirable Trees for
Planting on Pasture Land
to Produce Shade.
Failure of the Hop Crop in New York,
and the Distress 1t Will Cause.
The Best Trees for shade.


The Best Trees for Shade.
Nearly every farmer on the "treeless
prairies" expects at 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 en- their
places they might have had sufficient
shade for their stock by the time they
had completed their other improve
ments. Some, who delay planting trees
in pastures till after they have occupied
their places several years, set out varie-
ties that make very slow growth,
plant them in places not favorable to
them, afford them no protection, ne
glect to prune them properly, and thus
delay the time that their animals will
have the advantage of shade.
The best trees that can be planted
for affording shade in pastures are
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. Everyone has observed
that soft-wood trees grow much more
rapidly than those that produce hard
wood, and that nearly all of them sue
coed best oil land that is somewhat low
and moist One of the best trees for
moderately moist land is the American
linn, or common Eastwood. The 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 q
very dense shade, which is agreeable
during the hot days of midsummer. 1t
is very clean tree and highly orna-
mental. If the trees are isolated and
stand in suitable locations they ordinar-
lily have very wide spreading branches.
Sometimes several trunks will grow
close together and present a very beau
tiful appearance.
The sycamore, buttonwood, or "but-
ton-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. II the
trunk becomes hollow living shell
remains 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, smoke-houses,
and shelter for fowls and pigs. Hollow
sycamore trunks have afforded shelter
to many families of western pioneers.
The trees can be easily propagated by
seed or ripe wood cuttings of either
one or two-year-old wood cut late in
the spring or early in the fall. The
wood is very hard to split, quickly de-
Gays, and Is of very little value for
timber or fuel. Sections of large
trunks make good blocks for cutting
meat. The tree, however, is of very
little value except for ornament and
shade, but for these purposes it is very
desirable.
For higher land the silver leaf poplar
has many advantages. 1t is readily pro.
pagated to cuttings. grows rapidly, and
attains large size, while its branches
extend over large space, and afford a
good shade. The tree is healthy, moi
liable to be injured by insects. and at
tains large size. A few of these tree:
on a farm serve a useful purpose by
way of ornament. The wood make,
excellent fuel. The tree, however. IL
very Objectionable in one respect. If it:
roots are broken or disturbed they
throw up large number of suckers
that are very hard to kill or keep in
subsection. In planting in permanen,
pasture, however, this proneness Il
throw up sprouts from the roots Is MOI
likely to prove serious objection. i
the sod over the roots remains unbrok
en- the suckers will not appear as they
do on land that is plowed every year
The silver poplar is an imported tree
and we are just finding out what 1t |.
good for. When first introduced it wa.
planted in lawns, gardens, and on tn,
sides of streets in large towns. The
numerous suckers thrown up in lane
that was cultivated condemned 1t fol
these places. 1t is, however, an excel
lent tree for producing shade in pas
lures and for affordng fuel.
The common cottonwood or white
wood possesses most of the advantage.
of the Eastwood and sycamore, but II
: an inferior degree. 1t is not as beauti
full, and does not produce, SO dense ,
shade. When the trees stand at some
distance from each other and are KEEP
,, properly pruned they are quite attract
i've, and serve as ornaments 10 wei
, kept grounds. All these trees are men
! toned because they are easily propa
gated and grow quickly. Naples, elms
birches, beechcs and hickories are IA
more valuable for most purposes AM
afford good shade. 1t is necessary
however, to raise the trees from seed
to purchase them from nurserymen, Il
i move them ordinarily long distances
and to wait many years before the,
will nroduce much shade Treas TIM