Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-04-27
ALL SHOULD PLANT TREES
PRESIDENT WORST OF THE
STATE AGRICULTURAL COL
LEGE URGE TREE
PLANTING.
WHY fHe PRESERVATION AND IN.
CREASE OF FORESTS Is
OF VITAL I'M.
PORTANCE.
Assures Moisture to . Greater Degree
Than irrigation and Will Repay the
Labor Of the Farmer Many Fold.

IMAM tfTt0atton ana Will Repay tne
Labor Of the Farmer Many Fold.
Farmers a do nothing in the way
Of permanent improvement Of the
country that will produce a more pleas
ing effect for the eye and at the same
time mitigate the severity of the winds
and the probabilities of drouth. than
by planting trees. If every cultivated
quarter section of land in North Da-
kota contained Ave acres of timber it
would uuquestionably revolutionize the
climatic conditions of the state, and
favorably. At the same time it would
make North Dakota one of the pref
worth more to the state than all the
irrigation schemes that ever will be
devised and put into operation. 1t
would put more water in the soil than
irrigation v will and distribute it
over undulating as well as over fiat
lands. The salvation of agriculture,
industry in the western and northwest
ern sections of the state may yet de-
pend upon the cultivation of forests.
Irrigation is a good thing so far as
it a be practiced. but forestry is a
better thing for it will benefit all. Let
us plant trees on every farmland irri-
gate wherever water can be turned
upon the land. The element of risk
must be eliminated from farming op-
erations as far as possible to make
agriculture highly profitable.
The remedy is an easy n All
that is needed is for farmers to begin
now. this spring. and plant trees,
plenty of them, in groves large enough
to produce forest conditions.
Procedure.
Select five acres of cultivated grond,
ten acres if possible; pillow deep and
drag thoroughly. Mark the ground in
perfectly straight rows eight feet
apart. Plant an elm every thirty-two
feet in the row.. an ash or soft maple
midway between the elms and sevven
box elder trees Zone every two feet
between these trees. You will now
have trees two feet apart one way
and eight feet apart the other way.
Plant seedlings one or two years
Old by thrusting a narrow spade dep
in the row, press the handle forward.
set tree in the opening thus made,
then lift the spade and press the earth
down with your foot. Trees suitable
for planting car be purchased from
nurseries for about $3.50 per thousand.
The roots of the trees must be kept
moist from the time they are taken up
until they are planted.
After planting. procure an Acme
drag or other shallow cultivator seven
feet wide and cultivate the ground
between the tree rows four or Ave
times each season. permitting no
weeds or grass to grow. Should any
trees die, replant the following sea-
son. After about five years the shade
from the trees and the fallen leaves
will Obviate the necessity for further
cultivation. The trees will be SO thick
ly set that their growth will tend up
ward. as in a forest, but when they
begin to crowd each other, the box
elders a be gradually thinned out,
leaving the elms, ash and soft naples
for permanent timber.
After five years. the growth of tim.
Der on each acre for fuel, should rep.
resent a money value equal to that
produced by any grain crop, but with.
out expense to the farmer. In the
course Of years it would become neces.
sary, upon the removal of a tree, to
plant another in its place to continue
the forest. The trees may be distrib-
uted differently than here indicated.
but do not plant cottonwoods in a
grove. They are not a forest tree and
are too short lived when planted close
together. They may be planted in a
row around the farm and will grow
rapidly where they get plenty of sun
light.
Shelter belts of hardy trees and will.
low hedges around buildings would
also improve and beautify the prem.
ises and add comfort and value to the
farm, far beyond the expen.e of set.
ting them out and subsequent cutiya.
ton.
Success in forest experiments de.
Ponds upon thorough cultivation of the
trees and where this is attended to. it
should be not more dificult to grow
trees than to grow corn.
The principal reason SO few trees
have been planted in the state is OH
account of the time required for their
development, and thus many farmers
have deferred planting trees over a
period long enough to have produced