The Elbert County tribune., 1905-11-16
The FARM AND RANGE
A Cooperative Experiment in Tree
Planting.


tural Experiment Station at Fort Col
Inns are given in Press Bulletin No. %,
by Prof Wendell Paddock and Mr.. b.
o. Longyear
The planting of trees for posts and
fuel Is a subject in which the farmers
OF Colorado are doubtless interested
ana Yet il is one which has not re-
eeived the attention which it deserves.
SO long as land holdings were large
and but few fences were required, the
supply OF native timber was found
ample But with the division of our
agricultural lands into smaller areas.
requiring a greatly increased amount
OF Fencing material, the original sup
ply is being so rapidly reduced that
in some parts of our state the price of
posts has doubled within the last few
years In fact it Is evident that we
must soon look to some other source
than the natural timber growths of
this state to supply this increasing de-
mand for such material The Expert
ment Station. therefore, is about to
enter into cooperative timber plant
ing experiment with few land own
ers in various parts of our state dur
ing the coming season.
The purpose of the experiment is
primarily to determine the adapta
bility OF certain species of utility
trees to the various parts of our state.
The data thus secured will then be
available as information for those
who seek the adyice of the station in
the matter Of planting such trees. It
is also purposed 10 establish n number
of small plantations which may serve
as examples in tree planting for tim
al in hai
proper management 1t is finally the
aim, by means of this experiment. 10
encourage and promote the planting
of utility trees wherever in our state
they are capable of successful growth
1t is thus hoped that farmers win be
induced to make timber plantations
from which they may cut their own
posts, and to a certain extent their
fuel, within the next decade
Trees Selected-The trees selected
for this experiment are the Hardy. or
Western Catalpa, (Catalpa speciosa)
and the common or black locust (Rob-
inia pseudacacia) These Two species
have been selected because they
promise we'll for the purpose men.
toned. Thus they are relatively
hardy, grow rapidly under favorable
conditions, and resist decay remark.
ably well when in contact with the
soil. The locust, moreover. is of good
fuel value. By growing the catalpa
two seasons and cutting back to the
ground in winter or early spring a
growth of vigorous. straight shoots
will arise which will form good
trunks for posts or poles. Both spe-
cies sprout readily from the stumps
when cut in winter and by leaving the
strongest shoots the plantation Is
thereby readily renewed.
Following are the conditions OF the
experiment:
(a) One plantation of three hun
dred trees of each species is to be es-
tablished in each of twenty represen-
tatiYe localities in the state.
tb) Each plantation win be put In
charge of some responsible land
owner who volunteers for that pur-
pose. He will be expected. to furnish
and fit the ground. set the trees, irri-
gate. cultivate and prune them accord
ing to instructions, and to keep u
record of their growth from year TO
year. report is to be made TO the
station, when requested. upon the pro
gress of the experiment.
tc) The experiment station will fur
nish the trees for the experiment $500
of each species) T. o. b. cars FIT. Col
Inns, and supervise the planting and
give occasional supervision during
the period of the experiment. 1t is
believed that at the end of ten years
the trees will be large enough to fur
nish from two to four posts and stakes
each in addition to some fire wood
This estimate is based on measure
ments of trees grown in western Kan
sas and is not in excess of the record
of such trees now growing in this
state.
While it is possible for the farmer
to grow his own seedlings. 1t is doubt
full If this is advisable. Black locust
seedlings two years of age can be pur-
chased very cheaply from the prin-
cipal nurseries, and this is a suitable
size for planting. The securing of the
true hardy catalpa, however. is an un-
certain matter and unless this is done
almost ceratin failure viii be the re-
suit In this state
Directions: The land for this pur-
pose should not be land that has no
usefulness for crop-growing. although
very rich and heavily watered soil Is
not desirable The ground should be
fitted by fall plowing. if possible, and
Mth h"iioMSu III Spi ihlS' Dul idnu lh"'
has been in cultivation for one or
more seasons is better than newly
broken land. It should be free from
weeds and grass at time of setting the
trees; in fact. the preparation should
be the same as for setting an orchard.
which will greatly facilitate the mat
ter of setting the trees and tending
them later on.
Planting.-The best time for setting
trees in this state is undoubtedly in
spring. Trees planted in autumn. un-
less the work is done at just the right
time, are in danger of being killed by
drying out. When ready for planting
the young trees should have all
broken and bruised roots trimmed off
with sharp knife SO they will heal
more readily, and at the same time