The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1900-03-08
azaslAsR NbS
FlELRAAp GRRDEN
FORESTRY EXPERIENCE.

. . = =
gin Growing Lumber.
Among the best varieties Of forest
trees for groves, windbreaks and plan
tations on farms, for rough lands and
for reforesting the hills and valleys
where once stood the mighty oaks,
elms and hickories are the white ash
and Catalpa speciosa. In it's native
forest this catalpa often reaches a d.
ameter Of three to four and half feet
and sometimes rises straight for 30
feet without limb. l have had it
grow to a height Of five feet in one
year from seed planted the previous
autumn and at five years to stand Is
to 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.
and little care and pruning the first
three or four years will insure straight
trees. ,-~. d"
The wood is close grained. easily
worked and takes q fine polish and is
suitable for the very best cabinet work.
as well as for all building purposes
One Of it's most valuable qualities is
its durability. Posts have been known
to stand for nearly century in the
old forts and stookades built by the
early settlers and remain sound both
above and below ground. 1t has been
used 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 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 well, 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 wood weighs 4211a pounds. For
fence posts 1t is not valued highly, but
it makes a good fuel and is excellent
for rafters and all indoor work.
Probably the best way to obtain
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. I 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.
If the soil is rich and is kept clean
and well cultivated. the seedlings will
make 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
a low rate. l would, however, advise
farmers to grow their own trees. Seed
can be procured from any leading
scotsman. 1t does not cost much, it
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. l 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 very few years. says Fred
Grundy in Farm and Fireside.