The Dickinson press., 1904-01-23
PLANT TREES FOR VALUE.
Suggestions - to the Variety and CuItiva.
ton-lnfluence of Trees on Home Life,

JILL. Worst. president North Dakota
Agricultural College,: In the older
prairie ,tates groves Of trees tina, we're
planted years ago are now demonstrating
the economic value OF homegrown fuel.
Five or ten acres Of trees, intelligently
selected and properly cultivated will in
a te~ years produce more actual value
than amy equal area OF Land farmed 10
ordinary field crops.
Trees, however, like any other crop,
will not respond favorably when neglect
ed. They require the best cultivation
until they are large enough to shade the
ground so thoroughly ,ha, the grass and
seed innot thrive, or until forest ron
dltions are produced. Alter that they
will take care of themselves except
where thinning out the nurse trees be-
ing OF profit taking.
only trees of known hardness and Of
several varieties, properly intermingled.
In the northwest the elm and white
ash are perhaps the best permanent
trees. Soft maple and green ash also
thrive we'll when planted in groves, and
are long lived trees. The box elder
u oh CANNIIVul IuISV lICS, Ill II
can be gradually removed rs the trees
begin to over-crowd each other.
The nurse tree is a prominent factor
in producing a grove, for the permanent
trees require some crowding at first to
they are apt to branch Out low down in
stead of forming a long, clean trunk.
To facilitate cultivation and at tn"
4 came tiroA m ioc,,ro tha ca~,cenr. cr,y,f)
ing, it is a good plan t plant in rows,
other way. TO begin with, every other
tree should be a nurse tree, while the
permanent trees should be planted al,on,
sixteen feet apart in the rows. Soft
maple and green ash can be pl ,nted AS
semi-permanent trees. For the first two
or three years after planting the groves
corn, beans or p"tato"s c'n he protitahly
| cultivated hetw-. II the rows nf tr IS.
The cultivation should be shallow, hu,
frenQuent-not less than four or five
times each season. TIL frequent cult,
walton will keep tn weeds and grass
from obtaining 4 f"u,h.ld, md, vhn, ,s
| equally important, will so conserve the
moisture that loss of trees from drought
will he reduced to a minimum.
BY planting a grove on the north and
west side of the farm buildings it will
make a shelter belt in a few years tina,
will greatly mitigate the fury of winter
| stroms and drifting SHOWS. The prairies
of the northwest are naturally bleak in
winter, but much of the discomfort can
be dispensed with and much beauty
added in the summer time by planting
trees.
1t would require but little extra labor
| and small expense to adorn the farm
house grounds with shade trees and
shrubbery, with hedges and flowers, and
| the wholesome effect upon the vile and
| children in the way of contentment and
happiness, would go a long way toward
establishing a spirit of loyalty Tor rural
life.
The farmers of the country have it IN
| their power to make the farm not only
profitable, but comfortable and beautiful
| as we'll, and, all things considered, the
| envy of their city cousins. With pure air,
| wholesome food, rural free delivery Of
mail, telephone, independence, labor
saving machinery and comparative free
dom from temptation it is the best place
in the world to rear a family and to
enjoy a happy old age.
The farm shouldb be made so attractive
and inviting that the children only in
exceptional cases will desire to abandon
it for more trenuo and dangerous life
in the city. Money getting should not
constitute the sole purpose of life. Life
should have its higher ideals-its spirit
ual treasures that will endure forever.
Poor must be the man who at death
must be divorced from all he love and
labored for in this world.