The Ordway new era., 1905-11-17
the FARM AND RANGE
A Cooperative Experiment In Tree
Planting.

Details OF nm experiment in tree
planting inaugurated by the Asricui-
tural Experiment Station at Fort Coz
Inns are given In Press Bulletin No. ~.
by Prof. Wendell Paddock and Mr. b'
o. Longyear.
The planting of trees for posts anu
fuel is a subject In which the farmers
of Colorado are doubtless Interested
and vet IL Is one which has not re-
ceiyed the attention which 1t deserves
So long MS land holdings were large
and but few fences We're 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 or
posts has doubled within the last few
| years. In fact IL is evident that we
must soon look to somo other source
\ than the natural timber growths or
this state to supply this increasing de-
mand for such material. The ENperi'
mcnt Station, therefore. is about TO
enter into a 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 advice of the station in
the matter OF planting such trees. II
is also purposed to establish a number
of small plantations which may serve
as examples in tree planting for tim
ber and afford object lessons In their
proper management II is finally the
aim, by means of this experiment, TO
encourage and promote the planting
OF utility trees wherever in our state
they are capable of successful growth.
II is thus hoped that farmers will be
induced to make timber plantations
from which they may cut their own
posts, and to certain extent their
fuel. within the next decade.
Trees Selected-The trees selected
for this experiment are the Hardy. or
Western Catalpa. tCatalpa speciosa)
and the common or black locust Rob
inia pseudacacia) These two species
have been selected because they
promise well 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 n |
growth of vigorous. straight shoots |
will arise which will form good |
trunks for posts or poles, Both spe- |
ties 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
drcd trees OF each species is to be es.
tablished In each of twenty represen.
tatiye localities in the state.
OBJ Each plantation will be put in
charge OF some responsible land.
owner who volunteers for thar 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 /!
record of their growth from year to
year. \ report is to be made to the
station, when requested. upon the pro
sress OF the experiment.
tc) The experiment station will fur
nish the trees for the experiment (30O
of each species) I. o. b. cars Ft. Col.
lins, and supervise the planting and
give occasional supervision during
the period OF the experiment. II IL
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 10 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 II is possible for the farmer
TO grow his own seedlings, IL is doubt
ful II this Is advisable. Black locust
seedlings two years of age can be prr-
chased very cheaply from the prin.
cipal nurseries, and this is 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 will be the re-
suit In this state
Directions: The land for this pur-
pose should not be land that has no
usefulness for crop-grow4ng, although
very rich and heavily watered soil is
not desirable. The ground should be
httedeby fall plowing. IL possible, and
well narrowed In spring. but land that
has been in cultivation for one or
more seasons is better than newly.
broken land. 1t 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