Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1889-10-31
America, and more especially of North
and South Dakota.

lix Alba) is native OF. Europe. and,
Judging from the specimens to be seen in
the eastern states, was long ago intro
duced into America. The earlier settlers
in Illinois planted it extensively
as wind-break. Although not ma
tive, 1t is a long-lived tree IN America,
and far more useful than any Of the ma
tive species found east Of the Rocky
mountains.
N There is variety of it known as the
| .:golded twigged" (vitellina), which IS
equally as hardy as the common variety,
and is perhaps more ornamental.
VA The white willow on tile prairie is
probably harder and more rapid
grower than any other tree. No tree is
more easily raised. 1t may be termed
the pioneer" tree of the prairie, and it
| is quite certain that many less hardy
Gnds of trees will fail to grow except
under the protection such as the vii,
low, in the form of Il hedge or wind
break, offers.
At hardwood, Iowa, within four miles
Of the boundary line between Minnesota,
Dakota and Iowa, there are several miles
Of white willow hedges from Soft to soft.
in height, which were planted 12 to lS
years ago. Their influence upon the
crops in that district is marvellous;
afording, as they do, shelter from the
cold north winds and, what is still more
important, from the hot south winds. AS
soon as the farms OF South and North
Dakota are surrounded with such willow
hedges, the scorching effect Of the hot
winds will be modified, and the blizzard
| will cease to be terror.
MThe following is a fair estimate of the
expense of planting and cultivatlng a
willow hedge around quarter section
farm:
| 1000 willow cuttings Treight 1nclud-
| E4eQ SlU
i Flowing and preparing a strip of land
h,s,l2 feet wide and miles long ..... 80
! Subsequent cultivation. ...... 50
EfAAfThus at the end of five years, for an
average annual outlay OF 50, the owner
| has two miles of living fence II feet HIGH
/ which will turn stock, and which has
cost him the moderate sum of IA cents
| per rod. Moreover, he has increased the
/ marketable value of his farm by at least
81 per acre, leaving d balance in his
favour OF S230.
| EEfH However. the owner will be less dispos-
ed to sell farm which had, under bis care,
| begun to assume homellke appearance.
He will soon find that the protection
afforded by his hedge enables him to
raise Il grove of evergreen and other trees
around his house ana farm buildings,
IND he may safely venture to plant an
orchard of apple and other fruit trees.
| Moreover, his grain and grass crops will
be more productive ana. owing to in
csssased shelter and warmth. his live
1 stock will consume less food during the
winter and will come out of it in better
shape
! As the hedge grows, spare stakes may
be cut out and made into two or more
fence posts. If cut at the proper season
and stripped of the bark, these fence
posts will last five or six years.
Birds will soon be attracted by the
hedges and trees, and will prey upon the
noxious insects, whilst they enliven the
scene with their song.
Moisture will be retained in the at
moshere and in the soil, thus affecting
favorably both the climate and rainfall
Of the district.
1.-The periodical Trimmings of the groves
will supply the fuel which the family of
the settler SO much needs.
l1dt tUk dCeu SOtA1C vi VIC piOtl
inept reasons for planting willow hedges.
methods of planting.
Where the willows are plentiful, poles
feet to 10 feet in length. and averaging
lized in the following manner: The poles
the weather is not frosty and, the later
1, f,,1, .>ff CHI INI,
covered lightly with straw to prevent
them from becoming too dry.
These poles should be laid lengthways,
SO as to form d line, with the ends touch
ing each other, IN dead furrow which
has been previously prepared. This fur.
row should be 10 or II inches in depth.
The earth should then be turned over
them with the plow, and the poles thus
etfectually covered. In the spring, about
seeding time. the earth should be hoed
away at regular intervals OF Is inches to
to 2 feet along the row of willow poles.
At those intervals the poles will sprout
and, under favorable circumstances,
make growth of three to four feet the
first season. When the sprouts are 10 to
l. inches nigh they should be cultivated.
The future of the hedge will afterwards
uepeuu tllS CdlS uuNt NulliNatloii
given to it, as it will respond to good
cultivation as readily as crop of corn.
Another mode of raising a willow
hedge is from cuttings and, though not
luite so reliable. is a more economical
method in districts where the willows
are not plentiful and poles cannot readi-
ly be procured. The cuttings from
either one-year or twO-year old twlgs, :
or nine inches in length and about 3s to
>. OF an inch in diameter. should be cut
between the months of October and
December. or in the month of March,
but not during frosty weather. They
should be planted either IN the fall of
the year. or in the early spring. IN the
following manner: A strip of land II
feet in width. having been Thoroughly
prepared. the cut ings should be set Is
inches apart in "A straight furrow, ran
ming up the center of the strip opposite
the land side. The furrow should have
been plowed at least six or eight inches
deep. 1t is not necessary to set the cut
tings erect as they grow equally we'll II
planted at an angle OF - degrees. The
cuttings should then be covered by plow-