The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-21

branches would develop while in a
large square plantation this proportion
is materially reduced.
AS an instance. in describing the
conditions and methods necessary for
success let us take the western catalDa,
catalpa speciOsa 1t grows fast, is dur
able. light. strong, elastic, does not
check as much as most other timberS
and is comparatively free from insect
foes. The land should be such as win
produce good corn or wheat and with
porous subsOil. Prepare the ground by
deep blowing and harrow smooth; plant
0ne-year-old seedlings, four feet apart
each way (abOut 2,l23 per acre)- BY
carefully planting good stock there will
be no loss to speak of in any ordinary
season and in climate like eastern
Kansas After planting, it is necessary
to keen down the weeds and keep the
the trees will keep the lana clear by
their own shade, which viii be in two
or three years after planting.
LAS the trees grow larger they crowd
each other and shade off each others
branches, starting a straight and clear
body. Some viii now be noticed to fall
behind in size and vigor; these have to
be thinned out and this thinning has to
be kept up, always taking out the weak
est until a portion of them are large
enough for posts when the thinning be-
comes more profitable. The material
gained by thinning is of some value. as
in eight years after planting the trees
viii yield excellent fence posts and up
to that time much fuel. In 20 years We
viii have 500 to 1000 poles Der acre.
which will cut 80 feet long or more.
BY starting the scheme on a large
enough scale to Justify the permanent
employment Of a competent manager,
the cost of the operations viii be ma
terially reduced and the successful har-
vest fastened These estimates are
quite conservative and allow for even
combination Of adverse circumstances
Besides the catalpa there are, of
course, other varieties of trees that viii
make good and durable material for con-
structiOn. The most important of these
re probably among the eVergreens- but
i'm this latitude we had better cOnhne
our operations to deciduOus trees. They
are Of quicker growth and generally
more hardy from the fact that they
have the ability to reduce their radiat-
ing surface during their dormant con-
dition by throwing off their leaves. while
the evergreens are forced to expose all
their leaf surface to the drying out
effect Of the long and changeable win
ters.
1t VIII no doubt be mere difficult to
start the timber producing industry than
it was to begin the harvest of such
great variety and almost endless guam
tity Of material that nature had saved
up in the vast forests Of the continent,
but the time is a hand when not only
railroads but other capital also viii seek
timber culture as a safe and profitable
investment"
In this connection it is interesting to
note that eighty acres of catalpa trees
viii be planted by the Illinois Central
on a tract Of land adjoining Duquoln,
H.. on the northwest.
Owing to the alarming scarceness of
tie timber the Illinois Central viii at
once set out 10000 trees on this tract
And, as has been reported, the company
mas plans to plant number Of such
tracts Recently tracts containing more
than 20000 600 trees were set out in Louis
lana.
Arrangements for the planting of the
trees at Duquoin have just been made
through Mayor W. b Han, land agent
Tor the Illinois Central ia southern liz
nois- The cOmpanys land agents will
soon complete arrangements to set the
right Of way from Chicago to New Or
leans with these trees They will be
clustered at stations, set around cattle
pens. and viii be used to hedge the COM
pany's yards at all points. In addition