Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-02

is to ascertain the nature of the soil and
the climate. and then the applicant is fur
nished what is called a planting plan, tell
ing him the best method of planting and
the best arrangement of trees, the kind or
trees best suited to the soil and the climate
and where he can obtain the best stock
These planting plans are expressed In
simple language and the Information is
about as full as can be desired by an ordi-
nary farmer. The work of planting trees In
the east and in the west Is very dlnerent,
and planting plans that will apply to one
section are of no value whatever to another
In the east there are no timber reserves and
all the bureau can do is to cooperate with
individuals, mine owners, railway COM
panies and others who own large tracts OK
waste land that can be utilized for forestry
In such cases the bureau Is always Willing
to send an expert to instruct the employees
of a company how to plant and care FOR
young trees: but the company Is expected
to pay the cost.
For example, the H. c. Frick Coke Com
pany has recently applied to the forestry
bureau for assistance in making piant.
ing plan" for several thousand acres or
waste land covering their coal mines In
Westmoreland and Fayette counties. Pa;
While there is no reason why the SOIL
| over coal mine should not De cultivat go
like any other, many coal companies 90
not care to enter into system or farm
ing, and the income derived from renting
the land to tenants is seldom sufnclent 10
pay for the trouble. In acquiring iano
for mining plant coal company Cd
tains the titles to a considerable surface
area, which can be utilized to mucn
greater advantage by raising i,, Trees ,s Iod
by coal operators in their shafts ana tun-
nels. This kind of timber rs getting yer!
scarce in the mining regions, ana as d
consequence is increasing the cost OF min
ing. Every coal company of Importance
requires large numbers of railway ties
also, which have doubled in price within
the last few years: The cost OF the TIM.
Der required for mining has doubled since
1900 and is likely to increase more rap
idly in the future than 1t has IN the past
For these reasons the Flick COKE Con-
pany, which is one Of the largest OPP,
orators in the United States, has declded
to raise it's own timber. and has employed
experts under the direction of general
advisor from the forestry bureau TO plant
trees very generally upon its SURFACE
lands 1t will be ten or twelve years pc
fore any of the seedlings will be OF sur.
ficient size to make use of. but they VIII
be very badly needed by that time
Much Planting Of Trees.
In the middle west. in Illinois. Iowa and
other prairie states. and particularly IN
Kansas and Nebraska. where only ABOUT
3 DER cent of the total area was originally
covered with natural timber. there has been
a good deal of planting of trees to get
titles to timber claims and to secure pro-
tectior, against the storms and winds. These
wind breaks, as they are usually called,
are generally trees that will grow RAPIDLY
but have very little value for timber. They
can be used for fence posts and farm re-
pars but are seldom worth taking to mar
ket. The forestry bureau is trying to IN
troduce q better class of trees, such as
will prove more remunerative to the owner
when they are grown. 1t is also trying
to encourage the farmers of the west to
plant certain amount OF timber every year
and will soon be furnishing them the
seedlings at a very low price. The aver
age cost of one-year-old seedlings. outside
Of California, Is only 81 cents per thou
sand, and the freight charges are compare
lively small. Every man who owns farm
can afford to set out a thousand OF two
annually, which will furnish the next gen.
GRAFTON with fuel as well as building ma
terial In order to assist In solving this
problem six planting stations have been
established In different parts Of the west
one each in Nebraska, Colorado. Utah. New
Mexico and southern California. They will
be the centers from which the planting
activities will radiate In the future. They
will not only furnish the seedlings, but
will send with them instructions as to how
they should be planted and cared for;
the character Of the soil. the amount OF
water necessary, and other kn0 Wedge wntcn
II absolutely necessary for their growth.
Long ago IL was said that whoever caused
two blades OF grass TO grow where only
one blade had grown before was bene-
factor OF his race. How much greater Is
the benent conferred by planting thou-
Sand trees whore no trees have grown se-s
fore.