The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1904-08-26
TREE PLANTING ON PRAlRlEs.
Expert Foresters At Work In North
lS Dakota-Two Parties Traverse tho
NJ. Valleys Of thu Red and James

Expert Foresters at Work In North
1. Dakota-Two Parties Traverse tho
Valleys Of the Red and James.
Expert foresters are at work in
Rtchland county, having just arrived
from South Dakota. under the direc-
ton of the bureau of forestry of the
department of agriculture. Some
little work Of inspection has previous
ly been done, but the possibilities Of
tree planting are almost unknown.
Two forces of three men each are
covering the two states east of the
99th meridian. They began at Sioux
Falls on July II. The men are col
lege and university graduates of the
best type. Each party has driver,
and proceeds in a two-seated carriage
and camps out at night. The party in
the vicinity Of Wahpeton is under the
charge of ]. p. Venting, expert for
est assistant. In general he will fol.
low the west shore of the extinct gla.
cial Lake Agassiz, which constitutes
the western edge of the Red river val.
ley, about twenty-five to thirty-five
miles west Of the Red river. He will
continue toward Larimore and beyond.
about to the Canadian line. ]. M.
Fetherlof, assistant forester, is in
charge of the entire force, and imme-
diately of that which is taking a par.
allel course to Mr.. Venting. Mr..
Fetherolf travels for about fifty miles
farther west, and will pass near the
James river valley. All persons In the
areas named who own thrifty groves,
and also those who are experiencing
difficulties in growing trees will assist
this investigation.
The topography and climate Of the
Dakotas make tree plantations essen.
tial to the highest development of the
rich agricultural lands. The rainfall
west of the Missouri river is less than
In, Nebraska or Kansas, but this is
largely neutralized by the short crop
seasons. The winds in summer are
hot and dry, and are about the same
velocity as in the two latter states.
Because the rainfall is so small west
Of the Red river valley, and the evap.
GRAFTON, accelerated by the high, dry
winds, Is so great, trees in abundance
are required to Offset these disadvan.
tages. Properly selected and planted
as shelter belts and windbreaks, trees
| will greatly increase the yield from all
crops by cutting down the force of
the wind and conserving moisture.
The creation of wood lots is one re.
suit of tree planting that should spe.
ciall y appeal to the residents of the
Dakotas. The long winters necessi
tate the use of great deal of fuel
This fuel can be grown within a few
hundred yards from the house fa1
more cheaply than coal or wood can
be delivered by the railroads. The
wood lot will not only furnish fuel
but fence posts and general repair ma,
terial needed.
The first object Of tho bureau OF
forestry in its work in the Dakotas is
to ascertain If the trees now growing
there are the species that can be most
proftably planted. The study will also
cover the methods and cost of the
tree planting that has been done, with
the expectation Of Offering sugges
lions for improving those methods and
essening the cost The results of this
work cannot fail to be decidedly ad
yantageous to the Dakota farmers.