Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1907-09-26
TREE PLANTING IN WEST

ashlngtOn, Sept, 20. EXten.
sive Investigations of irrigated
lands in the western states to de.
termine the possibilities in tree
planting on reclaimed tracts has
just been completed by experts in
the forest service and according tc
the first reports of the studies the
Sudicious planting Of certain trees
around homesteads and along can
ais will greatly increase the value
of lands where irrigation has play
such prominent part in develop
ment.
The lands examined are in Mon
tana, Wyoming and the Dakotas,
and are practically treeless as is
the case on most irrigated tracts
in these sections. While it was
found that the growing of trees
under the conditions found on
most of the tracts will be con-
fronted with many difficulties un-
less great care is taken, it has
been determined that certain spe-
cies can be grown very success
fully for windbreaks, shelter
belts, fuel and protection of can
ais.
All of the land examined is of
great value for agriculture and of
course timber production on a
large scale would not be advisable
even if it were feasible. Planting
will be profitable chiefly for the
protection it will give farm build
ings, stock yards and valuable
orchards from heavy winds and
for the timber which can be grown
for fuel, fence posts and other
uses.
The principal difficulties I'd be
met in tree growing in the region
where the examinations were made
are the great extremes of tempa-
ture which are always an import
ant consideration, since it is the
occasional period of extreme cold
and not the average winter tenn
perature which determines the
adaptability of a tree. Damage
by drought and extreme heat may
be largely overcome by irrigation
but there is no way to temper the
wintry blasts of these wind sweep,
prsires. 1t has been found, hd
ever that the choice Of proper
species of trees will meet practi-
cally every difficulty encountered.
On the irrigated tracts in Mon
tana, Wyoming and the Dakotas,
belts of trees are needed on the
north and west to shield the farms
from the severe cold winds and on
the south to check the drying
winds that come from that di-
rection. Protection on the east is
not so essential, yet if the manage
ment of the buildings will permit,
a narrow belt of trees, at least,
will be desirable.
1t has been found species most
suitable for windbreaks and shell
terbelts are ash, boxelder, COM
mon cotton wood, lanceleaf, cotton
wood, Russian wild olive, jack
pine, white spruce, white elm,
blackberry, Balm of Gilead, al
mond leaf willow, western yellow
pine, Rocky Mountoin juniper
and blue spruce.
Next to protection the most i'm
portant reason for tree planting
is the need of local supplies of
fuel. The species which are best
suited for fuel production in this
region are the cottonwoods, aspen
and willow, since they will pro-
luce the greatest quantity Of wood
in weight per acre in the least
lime. For fence posts the plant
ng of green ash. diamand willow,
common cotton wood, Russian
Olive. Rocky Mountain juniper,
md western yellow pine is recon-
nended. Green ash and burr oak
furnish material valuable for farm
'epairs.
Settlers on irrigated lands in
his region who wish advice on
he selection of species and meth
IDS of carrying on tree planting,
nay obtain it by writing to the
orester, forest service, Washing
on, D. G. Requests for advice
hould contain information con-
erning the character of the soil,
he purpose for which the planting
5 to be done and other details
Which might assist in making the
eply as helpful as possible.