Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-02-25
HORTICULTURE
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Habits of Trees,

=" 1iidu L. HAL, OF IQe bureau OF
Forestry, United States Department
OF Agriculture, writes thus of the
habits of trees:
Tree Companionship-In almost
every region certain kinds of trees
are found together. This is due to
similarity of preferences in regard to
soil, heat, moisture and light. Two
trees adapted to the same conditions
will thrive best in the same situation.
The White Ash and Black Walnut are
good examples. Having similar pref
erences, they have almost identical
ranges and are very generally associ-
ateo There is also another reason
why trees accompany one another.
a Tree may SO influence its surround
lnss as to make them favorable to an
other tree, where otherwise they would
De unfavorable. AS an example of
such influence. the Chestnut on sterile,
sandy plains in portions of New Eng
land forms a much -branched tree,
Which shades the ground and keeps it
moist and cool. Such conditions are
favorable to the termination of the
Whlte Pine in that region; consequent
~ 1t is found coming up abundantly
peneath the Chestnut, but not so abun-
oantly on the open, unprotected
ground.
EHect of Change in Surroundings
A change in the surroundings of a
tree always modifies its habit of
growth. If the change is toward more
favorable surroundings the result is
seen In increased vigor, rate of growth,
and size; if toward unfavorable sur
roundings, the reverse will be true
The stately TuIip-tree of the central
Eastern states is said to be a mere
shrub in Florida. The reason is that
there it is out of its range of adapta-
ton. The White Elm, which grows
with tall and vase-like form in New
England, in the semiarid parts of Kan
sas and Oklahoma is low and spread
ing like an apple tree. Nor is form
the only variable character. On the
western elm the leaves are fewer in
number, smaller, thicker. and much
rougher than on the New England tree
In other parts of the tree there are
differences of the same kind though
they are not so noticeable as those
in the form and foliage. These varia-
tions have resulted from the differ
ences in soil and climatic conditions
to which the tree has been subjected.
Gradual Change.-The difference in
form between two trees of the same
about through gradual divergence of
characteristics. To certain degree
changes of this kind can be brought
about in practice. When a gradual
change is made in the surroundings of
tree corresponding change takes
place in the tree itself. Thus if stock
OF the New England elm be slowly
moved westward through many gen.
erations, it will gradually change in
form and other characteristics to be
like the western tree; and it must be
assumed that this change is neces-
sary to enable it to live under its
new conditions.
Sudden ChangeS.-Sudden changes
in the surroundings of a tree FREQUENT
1y cause its death, because it can not
quickly change itself to meet the re-
quirements of its new conditions. The
New England elm moved at once to |
the semiarid west is likely to die, be- |
cause it is not adapted to the condi- |
tions of soil, light, heat, and moisture
of that region. In the prairie marshes |
of northern Indiana there are occa- |
sional knolls which once supported |
thrifty oaks of moisture-loving kinds. |
Now that the marshes have been |
drained the drying out of the soil has |
caused the oaks to die. The change
was too sudden. Suddenness and
intensity of change often account for
the failure of trees to thrive when
away from the region to which
they were adapted. This is also why
eastern trees so often die when moved
to the west This is why nursery stock
grown near by can be more safely |
planted than that grown in a distant
region 1t is practical matter, and
should be generally understood.