The Dickinson press., 1905-10-14

Native Trees, Shrubs and
Dc. Fruits.
n The problem Of tree culture will sal-l
ways be an interesting one in this Sec
ion Of the country. The. remark is
often heard that "this will linevefb be much
If a corn country" and perhaps the |
same expression might be more aptly |
applied to trees. It is no doubt true
that the North Dakota farmer will never
raise corn for the market as they do in
Kansas. and tits even more evident that
this territory will never support great
forests or produce fruit in any consider
able quantities. Yet such facts should
not deter US in the least from trying to
do what is possible along these lines.
AS nature has done something in the
way of fruits and forest trees in this
this state, it will be we'll to follow in her
footsteps as far as practicable and i'm
prove upon her methods when possible.
In this way we will be most certain of,
success. Our most important forest
trees are the box elder, elm, blackberry,
ash, cottonwood, poplar, Eastwood, oak,
ironwood, birch two kinds), alder, pine,
red cedar and cherry. Some Of the
above are not strictly forest trees, such
as the cottonwood and cedar, as they do
not grow thickly, enough in nature to
afford true forest conditions. II is seen
that our list Of trees is quite an impps-
ing one a treeless state-and Il IS
certainly varied enough for the would d-be
tree planter to produce excellent re-
suits. Some Of the trees, such as hack,
berry and Eastwood. are found mostly in
the eastern portion Of the state, and per-
haps would not do so we'll in the western
portion. Others. as oak and red cedar.
ary rather chary Of being transplanted,
but if great care is exercised, success
can be secured, even with these.
Our story would be but half told # no
mention were made of our native shrubs
and woody vines. Fairly good results
can esobtained with trees alone, but
shrubs are also necessary to make foil.
age an effective decorative factor. A
list Of shrubs and woody vines, native
to this state, which are ornamental II
character, would surprise the majority d
people by its length. In fact. we have
no fewer than fifty species Of shrub.
which may be planted with effect, either
by themselves or in clumps. Thirteer
of these are found in the rose family
land ten in tho dogwood and honey
suck1e families. Among <the wood,
vines may be mentioned the moonseed
wild grape, Virginia creeper, honey
suckle and bittersweet. 1t is perhap
natural for most of us to desire the ex
otic and the rare, but in the caseso
plants we will obtain greater satisfaction
by restricting ourselves to the nativ,
and acclimated kinds.
The fruits found native in this stat,
indicate along what linesffFai culturl
san bemade most suedh Asidi
from the plum, the native fruits are con
fined to the smaller. varieties. Tn
following is only partial list of th'
native edible small fruits: grape, cherr,
five kinds. raspberry tive kinds), June
berry, gooseberry 1.-TWO kinds), curran
three kinds, cactus. high-bush Gran
berry, black-haw, nightshade two kinds,
|ground cherry two kinds), buffalo berr
and blackberry. While all of the abov
might not appeal to every one, yet the
4 all have possibilities Of improvement
perhaps as great as many of our bes
modern fruits originally had, which 9
course we're once known only in the will
state.