The Grit-advocate., 1905-11-17
THE FARM AND RANGE
A Cooperative Experiment in Tree
Planting.


planting inausurated by the Agricul-
| 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
/ and yet 1t is one which has not re-
ceived the attention which il 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 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 ii is evident that we
must soon look 10 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 a cooperative timber plant
ing experiment with a 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. 1t
is also purposed to establish a number
of small plantations which may serve
as examples in tree planting for tim
Der 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.
1t is thus hoped that farmers will 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. lCatalpa speciosa)
and the common or black locust lRob-
inia pseudacacia.t 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 Il
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:
ta) One plantation OF three hun
dred trees OF each species is to be es-
tabhshed in each of twenty represen-
tative localities in the state
tb) Each plantation will 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 a
record of their growth from year to-
station. when requested. upon the pro-
sreSs OF the experiment.
tcl The experiment station will fur
nish the trees for the experiment t30e
of each speciesl +. O. b. cars Ft. 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
h.A will I,,
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. it is doubt
full II this is advisable. Black locust
seedlings two years of age can be pur-
chased very cheaply from the prin-
cipai 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 will be the re
suit in this state.
Directions: The land for this pur-
HoSe SEuUiu iiOt be LdNC Inat mas no
usefulness for cropgrowing. although
very rich and heavily watered soil is
not desirable. The ground should be
fitted by fall plo~ins. if possible, and
we'll narrowed in spring. but land that
has been in cultivation for one or
more seasons is better than newly
broken land. Ii should be free from
weeds and grass al 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 al just the right
time. are in danger OF being killed by
drying out. When ready for planting
the young trees should have all