Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-04-20
PLANTING CHESTNUT TREES
Successful Method Persued by 3
Hampshire County Farmer.

Hampshire County Farmer.
NJ. c. Graves of South Amherst has
an interesting contribution on plant
ing chestnut trees in a recent number
OF the Country Gentleman from which
we quote: Three years ago l came into
possession of practically an aban-
doned farm, 80 acres in chestnut and
pine and 100 in tillage, with many
hlllsides and places which could not
be cultivated. / wished to get trees
growing on these places: how to make
them grow from the seed l did not
know, nor could l find any one who
dld; so | went to work planting chest
nuts in different ways, to see which
would succeed.
l first took a six-tine1 fork. forced
it into the turf two inches deep and.
say, four inches forward, threw a
chestnut under and drew out my fork.
| saw that one man was working at
disadvantage, so, calling a man. l
did the lifting of the turf and he
threw the chestnuts. The result was
that every chestnut grew, and they
are now two feet high. l then plowed
a half-acre, dropped chestnut every
two steps and stepped upon it. Not
che of tie chestnuts grew. l plowed
furrow in another piece
dropepd chestnut every four
feet on the edge of furrow, and back
furrowed against this. Not 20 trees
started on the whole piece; those
which did start were where they were
covered lightly and natures condi-
tions were complied with 1t is SO
simple and quick to plant seed with
man and fork, that l shall do more of
it iii the future. The last two years it
has been nearly impossible to get
seed; blossoms set we'll on trees, but
all blasted.
But work is not ended here: d
chestnut from the seed will grow like
| a bush, all branches: this spring \
shall cut them all level with the
ground, and sprouts will spring up
and make growth like a whip-stalk
Last August l was showing them to
friend, and / remarked that I was
will all die; if you want to destroy
brush you must cut them in the sum-
mer." l took my knife and cut two
Of them level with the ground-they
were two feet high In November
the sprouts from the two 1 cut down
were three inches high. Below one
large place, which had evidently been
hnl
around, contained nothing. I plowed
three double burrows through it, took
30 small pine trees from near by, set
them along in the burrows, plowed the
earth back the result is that Is of
them are alive, the same size as when
set out. 1t took me much longer to
set those trees than it would TO have
planted chestnuts, and when they are
grown they will not be worth nearly
as much for timber, as the demand for
chestnut railroad ties, plank sud fence
posts is much greater than for pine,
boards; also when forest OF pine is
cut Off we expect only Scrub oak to
come up, while chestnut will repro
duce itself indefinitely-the sprouts on
chestnut trees cut three years ago are
10 feet high and 1 to 10 at each stump
But do not expect to get rich sud
denly by planting forest trees. They
are like confidence--of SLOW; growth:
three years from the seed and 2racti-
cally level with the ground. Oak trees
cut last year for railroad ties showed
by their rings, 60 years growth: an
acre of pine grove, plowed for the last
time 40 years ago, Is only large
enough for box-board now; an ash
tree, which so years ago was large
enough for a line tree, is now but two
feet through. The Shakers in Enfield,
Ct, have done much at sowing land
with pine seed. 1t can be done, but
give me chestnut; the risk is less
from fire and wind. Ten large pines
blew down on my farm last fall;
never heard of chestnut blowing
over, and the fruit may be of account
| remarked to Elder Wilcox of the
Shakers that / was planting chestnut
trees, but should never live to eat of
the fruit. NAY, but if thee has Is
acres of thrifty chestnut trees, Is
years old, and thee should want to sell
thy farm, thee would find thy farm
would bring more money than il no.
thing were on it,"
1t has been said that he who plants
trees plants love. If you do not be-
lieve it, go out and look at a tree
which would not have been but for
you; and il you are not down on your
knees to thank God that he has made
you co-workeT with him in beautify-
ing the world you are not like me.