The Greeley tribune., 1906-03-15
NEEDED HERE
TO GROW A FOREST FOR A
CITY PARK
Barren, Unsightly Hill to be
Planted for use in Imita-
tion of Natural
Woodlands

!
Montana, have for some time been
agitating a plan to convert the un-
slightly slopes of Mount Helena,
which lies just outside the city, into
a forest park. A great deal of in
terest has been awakened throughout
the state by this project, for the
people of Helena will not be the only
ones to benefit by it. Successful
forest planting will be difficult, ow.
ing to the semi-arid conditions, and
will call for expert skill in the
selection of suitable species, the de-
tails of planting, and subsequent
care of the plantation. A solution
of the problem will serve as an OBJ
ject lesson of forest planting under
sim liar conditions elswehere.
In city parks the kind of decora-
tive effect sought is generally secured
by the art of the landscape gardener
rather than by that of the forester.
In the case of Helena there will be
reared, not single individuals or
small groups of trees, such as are
set in the conventional park, but a
true forest. Later on the trees may
pe cut for timber, without in the
least interfering with the integrity
OF the park. A good many cities
have parks which are partly or
wholly woodland, preserved in its
natural state; but no one thinks OF
cutting the timber when it is
grown. CommunalIy owned foi tests,
however, maintained primarily as
productive properties, are not un-
known in Europe. The educational
value of such a forest is we'll worth
consideration. a knowledge of what
forestry means would be a good deal
more common in this country II
otLer towns would initiate the eX-
ample set by Helena.
In order to secure a thoroughly
practical plan for the execution OF
the park project, the Helena I'M
provement Society availed itself OF
the cooperative offer of the govern
ment forest service, which places its
trained foresters at the disposal OF
those who wish to establish pianta'
tions of forest trees. During the
summer representative made d
study of the conditions on the
ground, and. as result, detailed
planting plan has just been submit
ted to the society.
The proposed park contains about
600 acres, There are about l4O acres
covered with young timber, and 400
acres more on which some timber Is
growing. Planting will be done on
about 600 acres. Western yellow
nine and red fir are the trees recon-
mended for most of this area. These
snecies compose nearly all of the
nresent stand, so that their adapta-
bility to existing conditions of soil
and climate may be depended upon
Resides this, they are among the
most stately and also the most val
uable trees Of the western forest
FINALLY, seed from these trees Is
readily obtained in abundance i'll the
neiuhborhood, 50 that ease and econ
omy IN the planting operat ions Will
he secured by their use. Other trees
adapted for the park are Timber pine,
lodpepole pine, blue spruce, Knob
cone pine, Monterey pine and Coulter
nine, The spacing recommended
4 nv & feet. would give l,2lo trees TO
tbe acre on land which is without
frees. Where the land is already
n,rtlv stocked, from 500 to l,ooo
troes per acre will suffice. The total
,,no,ber of trees required is estimated
,t SIS 900. To provide these a
Snecial nursery will be started.