The Elbert County tribune., 1908-01-16
ELEVEN THOUSAND TREES sue.
cEssFULLY GROWN WITH
OUT IRRIGATION.
NUMEROUS SUCCESSES
MILLIONS OF TREES WILL YET
BE RAISED IN SEMI-ARiD
DISTRICT.


dent of the Campbell system of dry
farming, says the Manitou Springs
Journal
The experiment consisted in the
planting of 1000 trees near Kiowa,
in the eastern part of Elbert county,
about fifty miles northeast of Manitou.
where there is no water for irrigation
purposes. The plantation now pre-
sents picturesque and thrifty growth
of young trees consisting of $500 black
locusts. 1000 hardy catalpa, 200 sugar
maple, and 100 each of ash, maple and
elm. The seedlings, from one to three
feet in height, were planted in rows
5x8 feet apart in soil that had been
under cultivation for several yeaSs. In
fact, to grow trees successfully by this
method. thorough preparation of the
soil to insure a good seed bed and soil
reservoir are prime requisites. This
was accomplished by fall plowing, fol-
lowed in the spring by discing, sub
soil packing, narrowing and cross-har-
rowing until the ground was in garden
like condition.
The only water these trees ever re-
ceived was when (after shipment some
1900 miles) they were unpacked,
placd in rows in trenches, their roots
completely covered with mixture OF
earth and water and the trunks pro-
tected by leaves and straw. Here they
remained awaiting the planters.
Planting was readily done by from
three to five men, each tree having the
dirt well tamped about the roots, a COW
ering of dirt being scraped about the
base of each tree. After planting, con-
tinuous cultivation during the grow
ing season was resorted to- This was
absolutely necessary that the trees
may receive the water, air and food
essential to their growth, and was
readily done by one man with a one
horse cultivator. Continuous cultiva-
ton not only prevents the growth of
weeds, which would otherwise rob thes
trees of moisture and plant food, but
keeps the top soil open and prevents
the loss by evaporation of an enormous
amount of water that has been stored
in the soil.
The results of following this method
has been with all the trees well nigh
perfect; by actual count up six ca
talpa trees having perished during
their first summer out of 1000 trees.
Growing trees by this method was
found to be comparatively inexpensive
and yet should prove very profitable;
in time supplying wood and posts, de-
creasing effects of wind storms, aiding
in increasing rainfall and helping to
store moisture in the soil.
To those interested in the develop
ment and prosperity of eastern Colo
RADIO, the success of this method of
tree growing means a great deal and
should prove great object lesson, for
with the ever increasing scarcity of
timber, tree planting for posts, ties
and other utility purposes, should and
doubtless will become more general.
Indeed were ten per cent. of the land
in eastern Colorado in trees (and the
success Of this experiment shows that
this is far from impossible) that sec
tion would be transformed from a
dreary grazing expanse to a rich ag-
ricultural country.
If DIR. Creighton's experiment were
the only evidence that trees may be
grown on the Great American Desert
without irrigation the skeptic might
say: "One swallow don't make sum-
mer,". and therefore claim the best of
the argument. But it is sound logic to
say: What one man has done another
can do-yes, a hundred Happily the
doctor is not alone. There are scores
of others, but this brief page will ad-
init of only a few instances.
Charles Green of LIE Roy, Logan
county. writes: "In reply to the ques-
ton, If trees can be grown here in Thea
manner suggested by DR.. Creighton. y
will say don't think, know it.
If you had been with me and some of
my neighbors in my grove on the
Fourth of July last and seen the ham
mock and the swing, the benches and
the shade, and heard the shouts and
af h. Obi
ask" His grove is of black locusts
from seed of his own planting in 1889.
He aiso set cherry orchard the same
year; they bore in 1894; six years later
two of Jhsm bore three bushels. 9th
ers planted in 1898 have been bearing
several years In tree growing he is
successful with both fruit and forest
trees, without irrigation.
]. E. Cawood at Towner, Kiowa
county, has shelter belt of black To-
Gusts for his home and an orchard,
not extensive, but attractive and eff
fective, while his neighbor. r. W.
Mayne, an old-timer, put out a fine
grove of mixed forest trees last spring.
as shelter for his home and cherry
orchard. Both are without irrigation,
intensively cultivated and vigorous
w. w. Towse, at Chivington. for
merly assessor of Kiowa county. set
1000 forest tree seedlings last spring.
Treatment the same as DIR. Creigh-
toms. and the growth SO vigorous that
at the exhibit of farm products at
Sheridan Lake on the 18th of Septem-
Der, he was awarded a premium. He
expects to plant 1000 forest trees an
nually and some of his neighbors are
planning to follow his example.
This country is not as worthless" .
as Daniel Webster once said 1t was.