Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1904-08-06
TREE PLANTING IN THE DAkoTAS

TREE PLANTING IN THE DAkoTAs
How Forestry Can Help to More Re.
munerative Agriculture.
The growth of planted trees in the
two Dakotas will be studied this sum.
mer by field force of the Bureau of
Forestry. Some little work of inspec-
ton has previously been done in those
states, but the possibilities of tree
planting there are relatively unknown.
The country is high and level for the
most part, though broken here and
There by canyons and small streams
There is less planted timber than in
Nebraska. The plantations are usu-
ally the work of those who took up
timber claims. Unlike much of the
planting under the same law else.
where, that done i'm the Dal0otas was
generally not perfunctory, but careful
and intelligent. Those who took up
claims planted not only because it
was necessary to make their titles
good but, since they felt the need of
trees, they cultivated them properly,
and they are now rewarded with valu-
able assets in their plantations This
growth will be carefully examined and
measured as basis for recommends
tions concerning scientific tree plant
ing and management
The field force this summer will be
six experts, divided into two parties.
They will begin in the southern part
Of South Dakota and work northward,
covering both states east of the goth
meridian. An persons in this area
owning specially thrifty groves, and
also those who are experiencing diff
culties in growing trees, will assist
this investigation and will obtain the
advice and assistance of the Bureau
by communicating with MIR. J. M.
Fether6lf at Sioux Falls, S. Oak, who
is in charge of the force
The topography and climate of the
Dakotas make tree plantations essen
tial to the highest development of the
rich agricultural lands. The rainfall
is less than in Nebraska or Kansas,
but this is largely neutralized by the
shorter crop seasons. The winds in
summer are hot and dry, and Of about
the same velocity as in the two latter
states. Because the rainfall is so
small and the evaporation, accelerated
by the high dry winds, is so great,
trees in abundance are required to off,
set these disadvantages. Properly
selected, and planted as shelterbelts
and windbreaks, trees will greatly in
crease the yield from all crops by cut
ting down the force of the wind and
conserving moisture.
The creation of woodlots is one re-
suit of tree planting that should speci-
ally appeal to the residents of the
Dakotas. The long and bitterly cold
winters necessitate the use Of an enor-
nous amount of fuel. This fuel can
be grown within few hundred yards
of the house, far more cheaply than
coal or wood can be delivered by the
railroads. The woodlot will not only
furnish fuel, but also, if the trees
have been properly chosen, all fence
posts and general repair material
needed.
Woodlots need not be planted as a
separate venture. They can be grown
in connection with and partly as the
result of the establishment Of shelter
belts. The wider these are made, to a
certain limit, and the more thoroughly
they are extended around the farm,
the greater the advantage in crop pro
lection and the larger the annual cut
of wood obtainable.
The first object of the Bureau OF
Forestry in it's work in the Dakotas is
to ascertain if the trees now growing
there are the species that can be most
profitably planted. The study will
also cover the methods and cost of the
tree planting that has been done, with
the expectation of offering suggestions
for improving those methods and les
sening the cost. The results of this
work can not fail to be decidedly ad
vantageous to the farmers Of those
states, who, it is to be hoped, will
further the work by Offering the fielt
parties all the information and assist
ance in their power to give
End Of Bitter Fight. --:
1.-TWO physicians had q long ant
n