Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-29
ARAILRoAD-rIE NURSERY.
Cstalpa and Alianthus Groves on the
Plains.

Ilatns.
Hon. Il. w. Phipps, Forestry Commits
sioner of Ontario, has been spending sew
eral months in the United States, visiting
the principal nurseries of fruit trees and
the estates on which much attention has
been gwen to cultiyating trees for timber
ana tuel. In letter from southern Kan
sas 10 the Toronto Giobe, ne writes:
lone railroad board here, knowing that
the growing OF wood, when set about
in earnest, 10 neither a slow nor difficult
task, has established in Kansas the laIS-
est artificial plantation OF forest trees in
North America. These railway gentle
men themselves gave out the contract for
planting over a square mile Of land with
young sapllu9s ot the catalpa and allan
thus; and their President, observing the
success OF their experiment, and impress
ed with It's probable excellent financial
results, has had planted at his own eX-
pense, as a speculation, as much more.
These are situated near the little town Of
HARRINGTON, Kan. These plantations, now
bare OF leaves, stretch iar over the uudu-
ldtlnS prairie, in iull view OF the town.
In summer their widespread surface Of
broad-leaved aud pale green foliage forms
one Of the most beautiful sights OF all this
country. At proper intervals carriage
roads are left through them, aud II IL
days drive 10 examine them We'll we OO-
tain carriage and horses and commence
our observations The different sections
have been planted, it appears, respective
~, two, four and SIX years ago. About
one-fOurth Is planted with the alianthus,
the rest with the cataipa. and a few, per-
haps thousand trees, of the white ash.
Those first planted are nov about - feet
ln height, the last about T. Some of the
taller are seVenincheS through the stem.
The first seedlings were brought from IL
lln0ls 10y the caIioad-ihe rest grown in
seed-beds here. There are IN all about
3,UOa,0D OF trees IN full growing YIGOr on
these plantations, tbis calculation leav-
ing out few on some small portions OF
poor land, which are not tilurishing so
well, but VIII yet be good trees In time.
All were planted feet apart each way TO
shade the ground, but feet is the ulti-
mate intention, which VIII allow turee-
t0urths OF the trees to be cut out. r thing
which can well be done when tney a.e nit
Tor fence posts, say 10 9 inches through;
or. II required, they can stay even longer
without lnjuung the plantation. When
rather Larger il is expected tle trees viii
give excellent railroad ties. and at their
fuiIer growth Of fifteen or twenty years
they VIII supply very valuable timber for
cablnet-work and house building. Those
VINO have only seen the original forest,
with It's trees growing at hap-haZard here
and there, little ones and biS, have but
very vague idea CT the large amount OF
wood these closely-planted groves can
spare in their process Of growth. TINS
process, partly natural, is also by the art
of the planter rendered partly mecbani-
cal. Extensive masses OF young trees
planted in this manner are restricted to
but one method OF adyaEcemen;-th en-
deaVOr TO throw out masses OF leaves to
the light ana air Of the upper surface.
Inc lower branches, hidden III shade, rap
idly die and tall to the ground, and tae
plantation becomes a mut.Itdde OF long.
straight stems, fun OF lie and vigor, but
only spreading into branch ana foliage at
the summit. If a tree in NouUu De crook
ed 1t straightens itself, II thus surround
ed, as II advances III height. One acre so
growing viii give OF wood, which is an
the better taken, quite a number OF cords
yearly till all the supertluOus trees be
gone. On each acre here there are 1000
more trees planted than viii ultimately
be allowed 20 attain fun growth. There
viii he left, perhaps, 100000 to come to
maturity, and as tuese as well as being
very useful timber, are fast-grOWiBg
trees, the profits seem likely to be very
large.