The San Francisco call., 1904-08-17
Tree Planting in Kansas.

The great need of the Western
farmer is more moisture. Happily in
that agricultural section the rainfall
is distributed that most OF the an
nual precipitation is during the season
when most needed. the time of matur-
ing the growing crops What the
great West does in the way of cereal
and other production is well known.
What IL might do under more favora-
bic moisture conditions it is difficult
to imagine But the farmers have In
their own hands the possibilities OF
vastly improving conditions. They
may not be able TO increase the
amount OF rainfall. but they can pro-
tect and conserve Ii far better and
make il much more useful than at
present. They can do this by shield
ing il from its enemies, wind and sun
light
The Bureau OF Forestry has been
working on this problem In an entire
ly practical way. It's agents have been
and still are scattered through the
Western States, studying the existing
tree growth and the conditions OF to-
pogra ply, soil and climate. All this
is for the purpose of determining if
/ trees can be generally grown, where
/ they can be best grown. what are the
most suitable species OF trees. how
most successfully 10 plant and culti-
vate them and what results may be
expected The conclusions drawn
from studies in Western Kansas.
/ small part OF Northern Oklahoma, a
considerable strip OF Eastern Colorado
and a portion of Southwestern Nebras-
/ ka have been embodied In bulletin
entitled Forest Planting in Western
Kansas" which viii shortly be issued
and can be had upon application to thu
Forester. United States Department Of
Agriculture.
In Western Kansas the topography
is such that little or no aid can be Sc
cured from irrigation. The reliance OF
the people must be in conserving their
water supply by fighting off as as eff
fectually as possible the waste Incl
dent TO evaporation. The seriousness
| OF this waste Is apparent in the fact
that the annual evaporation from
water surface is about "a inches. This
very high rate is due to the excessive
ly dry atmosphere and the burning
winds that prevail throughout the
summer and. unimpeded by obstacles.
sweep with aecelerating velocity over
a vast treeless area. The interposition
OF trees viii effect a radical change for
the better in the rate of evaporation.
II every farmer Will plant wind
break or shelterbelt. very much
OF the force Of the wind will be con-
quered and the evaporation rate will
be materially cut down. Every farmer
who thus plants Will insure local pro-
lection for his own crops. and will
thus improve the yield of his fields.
The more general this planting the
more far reaching and important will
be the change effected.
Added to the agricultural gain,
these shelter belts will furnish an
inestimable advantage I'm providing
wood lots. from which may be Sc
cured fuel necessary for domestic and
steam power purposes. fence posts and
general farm repair material. 1t is
wasteful for the prairie farmers to be
buying coal when they can. at little
expense and while improving their
general farm conditions. grow the fuel
they may require. And while the
price Of lumber is constantly soaring
higher, It Is a wise thing for these
farmers, at a small cost. to raise their
own lumber. especially when by means
Of these shelter belt wood lots they
are effecting at the same time an i'm
mense Improvement OF their farm
lands.
The bulletin which the bureau will
shortly issue discusses the existing
conditions. the need and advantages
Of tree planting, the kinds OF trees
best suited to the locality. and why
certain kinds should be chosen for
certain elevations and moisture con-
ditiOns. 1t gives estimates of how
different kinds viii thrive. furnishes
planting plans for wood lots shelter
belts and wind breaks. and describes
how planting. cultivation. pruning
and thinning can best be done. 1t is
practical handboo and should be
in the possession OF every farmer in
the region covered by its conclusions
and advice. The time may never
come when Western Kansas will have
the proper proportion of forest to ag-
ricultural lands. but the time is now
at hand when the farmers of that
section, by availing of the scientific
advice OF the Bureau OF Forestry, can
begin greatly 10 improve the value OF
their lands. to increase the annual
output Of their farms. and to provide
for themselves comforts Of shade pro-
lection which they do not now enjoy
Your town is a hundred years old
, is it," said the breezy westerner.
; Yes" replied the Chicago man
{ Its hundred years since the firsi
actual settlement OF the town"
: What do YOU call your population
J now p"
Two millions"
"H'mph. That's an increase Of only
per cent year. isn't it? Why
man. Seattle has got you skinned K
l death. ."-ChicaKo Tribune