The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1905-06-22
TOSTUDY PLANTED
TIMBER OF IOWA
PARTY or ENpERrs VIAL TRAY
co OVER the STATE,
WHAT rREE is BEST TO GROW.
Iemmlsslcn VIII Gather statistics
and Give out Information o. In.
leress 10 Farmers and
Others.

Amus, ia.. june III, beginning July
ist party 81 four agents OF the Unit.
ed states bureau Of Forestry will
work through the counties Of the
state in which there has been tree
planting of any extent, This party
will be made mp OF IA, II. iuker, For.
ester of Iowa State college, r. r. Bal
this, Of Des Moines G. A. Kupfer, OF
Des Molnes. and @. l.. Martin, OF
spencer, forestry students at the
state college, with H. o. Slecke, OF
the University of Nebraska.
The studies will be made for the
purpose Of determining what trees
have proven most valuable for pro-
lection and for profit in different sec.
lions of the state. Results obtained
will be so tabulated and arranged
that they may be fully accessible to-
those who wish 10 do future tree,
planting.
During the past year the bureau OF
forestry has investigated carefully
tho planted groves and natural tim.
Der In the eastern half OF the two Da.
kotas, the western third of Mime
sofa and eastern Nebraska and Kan.
sas and n portion OF Illinois. Detail.
cd reports will be published upon the
tree planting In these various states
as soon as notes are edited and def
mite conclusions drawn.
Tree Planting In Iowa.
Throughout Iowa n great deal or
tree planting has been done In the
past, both to satisfy the demands OF
tho Timber Culture act and to give
much needed protection to homes and
stock. Az Immediate results were de.
sired, the species most generally
planted were thoge which grow nat
urally In our river bottoms, with q
few which have been introduced from
Europe, such as cottonwood, boxel.
der, green ash, silver maple end
white willow. These trees have
some good qualities and have served
n splendid purpose In giving protec-
ton 10 much needed by early settlers
OF the state. They are, however, US.
ually short lived, soft wooded trees,
which In many instances are now dy.
ing out and should be replaced by
longer lived, more valuable sorts.
Many valuable trees have been |
tried In the state with much sue.
cess. Among the best Of these are
some OF tho conlfers and II Is with
an idea OF finding out exactly how
these various trees have succeeded
under our varying conditions Of soil
and moisture, that the studies in this
state will be undertaken.
Iowa an Agricultural state.
The great value Of the soil OF Iowa
for the production Of corn and other
crops makes the growing Of forest
trees In any quantity In the state out
of the question. There Is too mucn
poor land IN surrounding states
which will grow forest trees as well
az our rich soil. 10 make 1t a profit
able thing TO devote 500 land to the
growing Of trees In commercial
way. However, during our growing
season, the hot dry winds from the
southwest are often extremely injur.
ious 10 crops, while the cold, chilling
winds Of the winter from the north
west are severe menace 70 live
stock "a well as a source Of great dis.
comfort. This fact makes the plant.
ing Of windbreaks along the south,
west and north sides Of farms almost
a necessity, and II Is also necessary
that the kind Of trees planted for
these wlndbreaks should be those
which quickly reach the size de.
manded 10 furnish sufficient protec.
lion and at the same time be trees
which will bring direct profit 10 the
owner. This problem Of determin'
ing the trees best suited both for pro-
lection and for profit will be care
fully studied In the above mentioned
plan Of work.
Method Of Work.
The agents Of the bureau Of forest
~ will be divided into two parties.
and will travel in light wagons
through the counties, stopping at
each grove until tho desired data has
been obtained Exact areas In each
grove will be measured off and the
number OF posts etc, TO be obtained
from that given area will be deter
mined. The rate Of growth will also
bo studied, 10 that II will be known
Just how long II will take TO grow a
post Of definite species in each gec.
lion. Al n result OF circular letter
sent out through the state, much val
nable data has been obtained, which
win be used in outlining the route TO
be followed during the seasons
study. II was desired 10 get gome
Of where the best groves
we're, the kinds OF trees, and some |
thing as TO age and present condi.