Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-04-19
TREES ON THE PLAINS.
BY Is. E. Fernow, Chief of Forestry Divi
sion, Department of Agriculture.

sion, Department Of Agriculture.
There is no better proof for tile pudding
than the eating. While people are dcbat-
ing what could and what could not be
done, some curious man will answer the
question by trying.
While some people contend that We ran
not plant trees in the so-called arid
regions without irrigation, others have
done it. | am not familiar with the local
ity from which | have the following re-
port. but believe that the section from
which it comes has the reputation Of be-
longing to the district where irrigation for
tree growth is considered a necessity
Says Mr.. Charles Green OF Leroy Colo. ::
81 am located thirty-tive miles north
OF the north line OF Kansas and about
fifty miles west OF the east line OF Colo
RADIO, on the table lands, fifteen miles
south OF the South Platte.
| have planted in spring OF 1887 catal pa
speciosa, Russian mulberry, white ash,
soft maple and white willow cuttings,
all without irrigation, in new, unrotted
sod. The losses during the first two sea
sons upto September !, 1888, were rs fol-
lows:
Ont OF III catalpas, Is were dead Of
60 naples, one-half succumbed the first
season, but of the 30 left not more than .
died the second summer; OF the II null
berries only one vas killed.
The growth was very small except of
the willow cuttings, one of which making
only few inches the first season, but two
feet the second season. Box elder seed
planted last February, very thick, did
well, making growth OF one to two feet,
many nearly two feet. Ash has not done
so we'll. Some Of my neighbors have
tried black locust, which, in dry, gravel
ly soil, much poorer than our average
soil, made fine growth. Black walnut
seems to stand the climate well, but grows
slowly.
What may be learned from this report
is this: The kinds of timber tried, with
the exception OF ash, which is not fit for
uplands, can be started in the region re-
ierred to without irrigation. The losses
occurred not from an inherent incapacity
of the species to live under the local CON
ditions, but from oversight or carelessness
in handling the material.
IL is not safe to generalize from this
in the first two seasons upon the
further progress Of the plantation, unless
regard has been had for the future in the
first plan Of planting. Such regard con-
sists in the proper grouping OF the various
species, namely one of the kinds which
retains dense foliage underneath less
densely foliaged one such a combination
would be the locust mixed with the shadier
or box elder; the soft maple
with catalpa. Only by such combination
can we expect that our plantations will
progress satisfactorily through many sea-
sons, the one kind supporting and aiding
The other in maintaining favorable con-
1itions, shaded ground, which prevents
evaporation.
'In union is strength
l should propose the following method
If planting for the region in question,
which | know is not orthodox, but vet
having been advocated by me three or
'our years ago, has been tried with sue
less in western Nebraska.
Break the sod and harrow it fine with
/ dish harrow in spring, as soon as the
soil is workable. Plant trees at once in |
renches four feet apart, leaving the rest
If the soil undisturbed. In this manner
'ou avoid drying out the soil into which
he plants are set, providing mulch by
he narrowed sod, avoiding the growth OF
weeds during the first season at least, and
the falling rains in the trenches
where it is most needed. Do not cultivate
the rows, unless absolutely nee
sssary.
l should add to the desirable kinds to
De tried in the region, and one that is a
,ood shader and rapid grower, the wild
black cherry (prunus serotina)
B. f. FERNow,
thief of Forestry Division, Department of
Agriculture.
Washington, March 5, 1882