The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-03-23

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FORESTRY EXPERIENCE.
Interesting If You Are About to Be-
gin Growing Lumber.
Among the best varieties Of forest
trees for groves, windbreaks and plan
tations on farms, for rough lands and
Tor reforesttng the hills and valleys
where once stood the mighty oaks.
elms and hickories are the white ash
ana Catalpa speciosa. In its native
forest this catalpa often reaches d.
ameter of three to four and half feet
and sometimes rises straight for SO
Ieet without limb. 1 have had it
grow to height Of five feet in one
year froGg seed planted the previous
autumn and at five years to stand 10
70 20 feet high. Set singly it often be-
comes scraggy, misshapen tree, but
when set in groves or in single rows it
generally shoots straight up. In groves
1t should be planted about five feet
apart IN rows seven or eight feet apart,
ana a little care and pruning the first
three or four years will insure straight
trees
The wood Is close grained, easily
worked and takes a fine polish and Is
suitable for the very best cabinet work,
as well as for all building purposes.
One of its most valuable qualities is
Its durability. Posts have been known
20 n,1r L.
old forts and stockades built by the
early settlers and remain sound both
above and below ground. 1t has been
use:! for railway ties alongside of the
best white oak, has stood up under
the heaviest traffic, firmly held the
spikes and is still sound, though the
oak ties have been replaced three
times. 1t is tree that all who are
wise enough to begin growing lumber
can confidently plant.
The white ash is a tree that is easily
grown from seed, and it stands trans
planting as well as any tree know.
1t is a clean, rapid grower and can be
set quite closely. 1t is better grower
singly than Catalpa speciosa, going
straight up instead Of looping this way
and that. The wood is used for all in
door work, for implements and furni-
ture. 1t works we'll, looks well and is
strong and lasting. When perfectly
dry, the wood weighs about 40 pounds
to the cubic foot, while sugar maple
generally supposed to be a much
heavier woo6 weighs 4211a pounds. For
fence posts it is not valued highly, but
1t makes a good fuel and is excellent
Tor rafters and all indoor work.
Probably the best way to obtain a
stock of these two trees is to SOW the
seeds in rich, mellow soil as early In
the spring as the ground can be work
ed. SOW thinly in drills two or three
feet apart. If the trees are to be tax
en- out after one years growth, two
feet Is far enough apart for the drills
II the soil is rich and is kept clean
and well cultivated, the seedlings will
make a growth of two to five feet, and
they are most easily handled and set
out when that size. If one does not
care to grow them from seed, they can
be obtained from any large nursery at
low rate. would, however, advise
AshAAACLSf " ElOW tACll OWu llCCS. ScCV
can be procured from any leading
scotsman. 1t does not cost much, 1t
Is easily planted, and there is little
work about caring for the seedlings.
Then one usually gets a finer lot of
trees, and they can be dug and set out
when convenient.
In setting out the seedlings would
aim to have the roots about six inches
long, cut off all branches, but don't cut
the bark of the tree. would set them
out as early as l could work the soil
any time after the list of March,. The
earlier the better. If they are set on
rough or brushy land, would begin
the work as soon as frost is out. AS
they grow keep the leader going
straight up, and it will be beyond your
reach in a very few years. says Fred
Grundy in Farm and Fireside.