The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1906-03-08
TO GROW FOREST FOR 4 CITY PlRK
Barren, Unsightly Hill-to BE Planted
for Beauty and Use Ia Imitation
OF Natural Woodland.

Public spirited citizens Of Helena,
Montana, have for some time been agi-
tating q plan to convert the unsiehtly
slopes Of Mount Helena. which lies just
outside the city, into forest park. A
great deal OF interest has been awakened
throughout the State by this project,
for the people Of Helena will not be the
only tines 10 benefit by IL. Successful
forest planting will be difficult, owing TO
the semisrid conditions, and will call
for expert skill in tie selection Of suit
able species, the details OF planting. and
subsequent care Of the plantation. A
solution Of the problem will serve a, an
object lesson OF forest planting under
similar conditions elsewhere.
In the city parks the kind oil decorate
i've effect sought IL generally secured by
the art Of the landscape gardener rather
than by that OF the forester. In the
case Of Helena there will lie reared, no |,
single individuals or small groups of
treee, such as are set in the conventional
park, but q true forest. Later on the
trees may be cut for timber, without In
the least interfering with the integrity
Of the park. A good many cities have
parks which are partly Of wholly wood
land, preserved In lie natural state /;
but no one thinks OF cutting the timber
when II is grown. CONTINUALLY owned
forests. however, maintained primarily
~ productive properties, are not I'm
known in Europe. The educstiona !
value OF such forest Ia well worth con-
sideration. A knowledge Of whst TO-
cstiy means would be good deal more
common in this country II other towns
would initiate the example set by
Helena.
In order TO secure thoroughly prac-
tical plan for the execution Of the park
project, the Helena improvement soci-
ETY. awaited itself "a the cooperative offer
Of the Government forest Service, which,
places its trained forester at the disposal
of those who wish to establish plsnts-
tions OF forest trees. During the summer
q representative made study of the
conditions on the ground, and, as a re-
suit. detailed planting plan has jus,
been subm tilted to the Society.
The proposed park contains about 90o
acre. There are about 40 acres already
covered with young timber, and 400 acres
more on which some timber is growing
Planting will be done on about 6Ojscres
Western yellow pine and red FIR are the
trees recommended for most OF this area
These species compose nearly all Of the
present stand, so that their ada ptabili,y
to existing conditions OF soil and climate
may be depended upon. Besides this
they are among the most stately aud ais,
the most valuable trees OF the western
forest. Finally, seed from these trees Il
readily obtained In abundance In tn,
neighborhood, 80 that ease and economy
in the planting operations will be secured
by their use. Other trees adapted 70
the park are lumber pine, lodgepol pine
blue spruce, knobcone pine, Montere,
pine. and Coulter pine. The spacing
recommended, 8 by feet, would Civ,
1.2lU trees to the acre on land which i
without trees. Where the land 10 al.
ready partly stocked, from 800 to 90
trees per acre will suffice. The tota
number Of trees required 10 estimsted a
675,0oo. To provide these . rpccia
nurery will be started.