Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-03-12
TREE CULTURE in NORTH DAKOTA

There was a time, doubtless, when
the present treeless plains Of the Das
kotas were covered with a luxuriant
growth Of forest trees. What the ma
8ture Of these trees was, or by what
means they were externinated, Is a.
mystery There is no good reason,
however, why these plains should not
again be covered with a reasonable
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 were raised In the east. At the
present time, In nearly all parts Of The
Dakotas, one may gaze across the
prairfes, the distance Of a days travel,
without seeing a tree or shrub This
is not as it should be. Every quarter
section should have at least d small
timber lot capable Of supplying fuel;
and fencing for the needs Of the own
er. 53$
wish 1t were possible to have for
estry taught In the public schools;
and, think It would be better IL.
school grounds were made larger, say
from five to twenty acres, as circum-
stances would permit, and these
grounds planted with an assorted
growth Of hardy native trees with q
liberal sprinkling Of ornamental
shrubs and flowers. This, while be-
ing healthy play ground for the
children, would be an object lesson,
intoxicating into the hearts Of the ris-
ing generation a love for trees: and
this is the one thing most needful at
the present time.
The greatest obstacle ii 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 a 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 IT planted to some
cultivated crop. such as corn or 90.
tatoes for at least three years, and
five years would do better. Always
plow the ground In the fall and il pos
sible use a snbsoil plow behind the
common plow. This subdues the wild
nature Of the soil and the frost pulyer-
ICES and moistens the ground to
greater depth and the young trees VIII
come more nearly to finding their nat:
ural conditions. IN their native Or
wild state the little seedlings And a
seed bed prepared for them by the.
accumulation Of leaf mould for count
less centuries. Unnumbered genera
tons OF trees have rotted and con-
tributed to the making OF soil suited
J TO their needs, the older trees afford
just the needed amount Of shade. ia
the winter time mother nature is good
to them and kindly covers them with
a mulch OF leaves; and, while we can
not hope to- give our little transplant
ed friends all these Injuries, we may
approach as nearly as possible to
these ideal conditions and give them
the necessities by proper preparation.
Of the soil and thorough after cultiva-l
ton.
am myself in favor Of planting
trees quite close together, say six feet
apart one way and four feet the other.
This more quickly covers and shades
the ground, and as they grow and are
crowded for room, each alternate tree
and afterwards each alternate row
may be removed. Trees should be
thoroughly cultivated and not q weed
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