Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-04-02
Facts for Our Farmers.



two OF fine manure may be put in the
hole after the roots are we'll covered
/ with the soil; then the hole can be
! filled level with the surface of the
! ground. In the absence of stable
manure you can use TO good advantage
! five pounds of unleached wood ashes
/ to each tree, applying One-half of it on
the soil directly after the roots are
covered, and the other half on the sur
face Of the ground around the tree. In
| case you cannot get stable manure or
wood ashes, you can use any of the
complete makes of commercial fer
tlliZers- These manures may be
used afterwards in large quantities.
according to the development and re-
Quirements Of the trees. All roots of
the trees that may have been mutt
lated with the spade or tree digger
should be made smooth with a sharp
knife. This work is very important
and should not be neglected.
After the trees are planted they
should be properly and severely
pruned back, removing fully two
thirds Of the wood and leader. In
cutting off these branches, look for
bud on the outside Of the limb, and cut
back directly above this bud. We
need hardly state that this pruning
back at the time of planting is one of
the most necessary and important re-
quirements, and failure to attend to
this small detail has been the direct
and only cause for the loss of very
many trees.
Under the head of tending forests
should be included improvement cut
tings and protection. Improvement
cuttings include cleanings, prunings
and Trimmings. The removal of green
branches is called pruning. The
fewer branches, the better will be the
quality of the wood. Trees should
be grown in such way that they will
naturally shed their lower branches.
A thinning consists in lessening the
crowded condition of the crowns of
the good trees in the canopy, so as to
provide room for those which remain,
as they grow older and larger. Thin
canopy may be lightly and gradually
opened, and not Interrupted. AS the
forest grows in age, the number of
trees it is capable of supporting de,
creases propOrtionately. Of course,
in rough woods, such as exist in this
country in many places where even
numbering is not profitable, it is not
possible to practice the fnesse of
forestry. In wood-lots on farms,
however, the farmer may often in
crease the value of his forest by d
little Improvement cutting now and
then. Often two trees may be too
close. If left, neither would develop
into a good tree. If one is cut, the
other will have opportunity to form a
symmetrical crown.
The protection of all forests, both
state and private, against fire and
against the careless or malicious
actions of individuals, is the duty Of
the state. This should be controlled
by well-enforced laws. The greatest
enemy of the forest in America is
fire. They may be prevented by
patrols during the dangerous seasons, !
by the construction of fire lanes and
by the removal of combustible |
materials from the surface of the
soil. The best way to protect forest
against wind and storm is to cut
sparingly and to plant deep-rooted
species. AS protection against in !
sect pests mixed forests should be
planted, and birds, toads, snakes, |
lizards and insect-eating insects be |
encouraged. The man with the gun
ought to be kept in check as much as
possible. Grazing or browsing
animals should not be allowed in the
forest except under special condi
lions. Diseased trees which are
centers of infection for fungous dis
ease should be cut out. In order to
protect a forest against noxious
weeds keep the canopy close and cut |
the weeds back whenever possible.