Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-02-09
PRACTICAL TREE TALKS
BY John w. MlIiet, Bismarck, NJ. Oak.
In The Dakota Farmer

There was d time, doubtless, when
the present treeless plains Of the Da-
3kotas were covered with q llixuriant
growth Of forest trees. What the ma
ture Of these trees was, or by what
means they were exterminated, is
mystery. There is no good reason,
however. why these plains should not
again be covered with a reasonable 1
amount of forest growth; and, with
forests would come, in the course Of /
time. the babbling brooks and similar
features dear to the hearts of those
who we're raised in the east. AT the
present time, in nearly all parts Of the
Dakotas, one may gaze across the
prairies, the distance Of days travel,
without seeing a tree or shrub. This
is not as 1t should be. Every quarter
section should have at least a small
timber lot capable Of supplying fuel
and fencing for the needs of the own
er. 5.5f B ..s,
II wish it were possible to have for
estry taught in the public schools;
and, I think It would be better if
school grounds were made larger, say
from five to twenty acres, as circunsssS
stances would permit, and these
grounds planted with an assorted
growth of hardy native trees with a
liberal sprinkling Of ornamental
shrubs and flowers. This, while be-
ing q healthy play ground for the
children, would be an object lesson,
intoxicating into the hearts of the ris-
ing generation love for trees; and
this is the one thing most needful at
the present time.
The greatest obstacle in the way Of
tree planting now is the large amount
OF land in the hands of nonresident
spectators. But those who reside on
their land should see to it that they
set good example by commencing to
plant trees at once, although the first
step is not usually the actual planting
OF the trees, but the preparation Of the
soil by keeping 1t planted to some
cultivated crop, such as corn or no
tatoes for at least three years, and
i've years would do better. Always
pillow the ground in the fall and il pos
s1ble use a subsoil pillow behind the
common pillow. This subdues the Wild
nature OF the soil and the frost pulver.
ICES and moistens the ground to a
greater depth and the young trees will
come more nearly to finding their nat.
ural conditions. In their native or
wild state the little seedlings find a
seed bed prepared for them by the
accumulation Of leaf mould for count
less centuries. Unnumbered genera
ions OF trees have rotted and con
tr1buted to the making of soil suited
70 their needs, the older trees afford
Just the needed amount of shade. in
the winter time mother nature is good
70 them and kindly covers them with
a mulch Of leaves; and, while we can.
not nope to give our. little transplant.
60 friends all these Injuries, we NAV
approach as nearly as possible to
these ideal conditions and give them
the necessities by proper preparation
OF the soil and thorough after cultiya-
ton. ~ t..sI
| am myself in favor of planting
trees quite close together, say six feet
apart one way and four feet the other.
Ihls more quickly covers and shades
the ground, and as they grow and are
crowded for room, each alternate tree
ana afterwards each alternate row
may be removed. Trees should be
thoroughly cultivated and not a weed
aiioWed to grow for at least eight or
ten years after planting. thing it
pest, for the present at least, to rely
principally on our natice hardy trees
| such as box elder, cottonwood, etc.
and the alternate rows could be
planted with the slower growing trees
such as ash, oak, etc. Then when
some must be removed to make more
room, the slower growing and more
valuable kinds can be left. 1t NAV
also be well to plant an occasional
evergreen or row of evergreens
among the other trees. But few ever.
greens seem to stand the rigors OF orr
winter know of but one that is
thoroughly reliable, and that is our
native native Red Cedar, though it may be
Wen to experiment in small way
with Black Hills spruce, Colorado
blue spruce, Norway spruce, Norway
pine. Jack pine, and Pinus Ponderosa.
zMy own experience in planting trees
and have planted trees in Dakota
Tor over thirty years goes to show
tnat trees do best when grown from
seed and not transplanted. / am wen
aware that this is contrary to most