The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1905-07-07
PLANT BETTER TREES.
GOVERNMENT is STUDYING THE
CONDITIONS.
THE PRAlRlEs ARE DEVELOPING
Farmers and Ranehmen Should Select
Trees Valuable for Their Lumber as
Well as for Shade, Wind Breaks and
Other Uses.

Other Uses.
The following bulletin from the bu.
reau OF forestry, United States de-
partment OF agriculture, tells what
the government Is doing to help the
farmers attain better values from the
land set aside for tree culture:
In the states Of the middle west
there is pressing need Of more trees,
both for wood and for windbreaks and
shelter-belts. This need has been felt
since the prairies were first settled,
but the attempts made to supply it
have, as a rule, fallen short of the ben
efits which might have been secured.
The early planting was done chiefly
for the sake of ornament or shade;
the usefulness of the species for wood
was seldom considered. In many
cases, also, trees were planted out
side of the range to which they were
adapted, and on soil and in locations
unfavorable to them. On the other
hand, many valuable species were
neglected.
Experience has now furnished the
basis for better practice. Various
kinds of trees can be grown in these
regions which will serve Just as well
for protection and ornament as those
which have been most used, and which
at the same time will furnish valuable
wood. For several years the bureau
Of forestry has been investigating this
subject, with results which are recog-
nized throughout the prairie region
as of great practical value. The work
consists of field studies of the exist
ing forest growth, both natural and
planted, of its relation to soil and eli
matte conditions. and of the effect of
various cultural methods.
In carrying on the work bureau field
parties examine and make measure
ments of representative groves. From
these measurements volume and yield
tables are made which show the re-
turns in cordwood, posts, stakes and
lumber to be expected in a given time
for each OF the species studied. In
addition to the measurements, the
characteristics of growth and repro
duction of the trees are noted, and
valuable data on the natural dstribu-
tiOn and advisable planting range OBJ.
tanned.
The work in the eastern part of the
two Dakotas western Minnesota, Hi
nois, eastern Nebraska and western
Kansas is already done. A bulletin
| hn CT, in
sas has been published, giving infor-
nation concerning the species most
suitable to the locality and telling
how and where to plant them. Bull
letins of the same character covering
other states are in preparation. This
summer Iowa will be studied, and lat
er other states of the middle west, un-
til the whole region is covered. Con-
siderable tree planting has been done
in some of these states, occasionally
with complete success; but there have
been many total failures, and many
attempts successful only in part AS
a rule, the lack of success was due to
lack of knowledge how and what to
plant. But these plantations, whether
successful or not, provide valuable
object lessons in respect to future
planting.
An important part of the study will
be to determine to what extent the
natural forest growth along streams
and elsewhere is encroaching upon
the drier upland in consequence of
the protection from fire which settle
ment gives. Where this native growth
can be utilized, it may be advisable to
encourage it. Generally, however.