The Elbert County tribune., 1906-06-28
CAREFUL TESTS THAT ARE BEING
MADE IN COLORADO
AT AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
Arboretum at Fort collins-co-oper-
ative Experiments in Tree Plant
ins-Forty-Eight Farmers Taking
Part.
BY W. G. NJ. Stone.


What they are doing at the State
Agricultural College for forestry will
be the burden of this brief. Three fea-
lures of the work have been taken up,
two of which are in effect, the other de-
termined upon at the last regular
meeting of the State Board of Agricul-
ture.
The first TO mention was the plant
ing of an arboretum a year ago, con-
tanning tifty-two species and varieties
of deciduous trees, embracing S55
specimens in all. They are planted at
the northwest corner of the college
farm. At the close of the growing sea
son they were looking well, but came
through the winter in bad shape. The
college farm seems not to be well aup-
piled with water. If true, wonder if
the people would consent to its remain
ing so, l wonder if they know it, If
the college farm has an inadequate
supply provision should be made by
the next Legislature to meet the want,
or in case none can be obtained, good
farm, well provided with water for ir
rigation. should be procured, no matter
what the cost.
An arboretum is an important exper-
iment, an object lesson for the people.
In a state like ours, where arid condi-
tions obtain and where nature has pro-
vided so few deciduous trees, such an
experiment is imperative. 1t should
have been undertaken many years ago,
but was not. 1t has remained for the
present administration to see the need
of 1t and start it. 1t would be a living
hatr ,1r.n I.l nn,-i-
ment fail or be in any degree injured
for lack of water, when everyone
knows that the Fort Collins district
has one of the best water supplies in
Colorado. An arboretum is as neces-
sary to course of forestry and techni-
cal study of the subject as is labor
atory and chemicals in a course of
chemistry.
The second feature of forest work
undertaken is a popular experiment in
tree planting, cooperating with farm
ers and land owners over the state.
This is being conducted by the state
agricultural experiment station under
the direction of Prof. L. G. Carpenter,
but placed for execution with the horti-
cultural department. over which Prof.
Wendell Paddock presides. 1t was de-
termined to secure if possible, the CO.
operation of twenty farmers to agree
to take up the experiment, they to
furnish the ground and do the work
and the station to supply each appli-
cant with a stipulated number of two
specified species of hardwood trees of
high utility value. The species Sc
Ncted were black locust and hardy ca
talpa. the latter procured of nursery
known to grow only the genuine, a
u ybny
is known hat at least seventy-five per
cent. of the catalpa trees planted
throughout the country are not of the
hardy kind. 1t is a generally recoS-
nized fact that many catalpa trees in
Colorado are tender, freeze back, and
undesirable The reason is obvious.
Twenty locations were selected and
a press bulletin prepared and sent out
announcing the plan and what was pro-
posed More than ninety commuEica-
tions were received, showing a sur
prisingly widespread interest in the
subject among the people. Some said
they would like the trees, but did not
care TO take up an experiment; they
had already experimental in tree-grow-
ing and were ready to take hold of it
in dead earnest" One of our state
senators was asked to take it up. He
said he didn't need it and didn't want
it: that he had experimental and was
satisfied that trees would grow and
pay the farmer a good return. When
pressed to assist he said: We'll, If do
| shall plant them in one of my best
fields, right by the roadside. so that
everyone who passes may see them.
In that way the experiment, as such,
may be of some value. | don't need
it"
/ said there were over ninety COM
munications. When thoroughly sifted
there were forty-eight pressing appli-
cants. The station did not have trees
for so many Only twenty experiments
had been provided for, but arrange
ments were made to supply the entire
forty-eight as far as possible. The ca
talpa was expensive. but provision was
made for twenty-four. The remainder
were provided with 500 black locusts
each. Besides these forty-eight admis-
sions another was taken in, the appli-
cant furnishing his own trees, half and
half of black locust and hardy catalpa
five acres, embracing 2,250 each. The
reader will note by computation that
these forty-nine experiments embrace
1,450 black locust and $3.50 hardy ca
lalpa, or a total of 10000 utility trees.
NOW tnlS step is something partlcu-
arly tangible and one of the most
noted things undertaken in any state
during the past year in forestry. One
of the best-posted men in such matters
remarked that in his opinion it was
one of the most important moves
the college ever made. and doubtless
he is right. 1t has called attention to
tree planting as nothing else ever has
and led number of farmers and land
owners to start plantations on their
own account. happen to know of six
men outside of the experiments who
ordered 1860 trees, 1850 being hardy