The Greeley tribune., 1908-01-16
HIS SUCCESS
MAN1ToU DOCTOR MAKES
TREES GROW ON PRAIRIE
Without Any Irrigation at ALI
Secures Fine Growth of
Useful Timber-Worth
Copying.


Growing trees without irrigation
in semi-afid eastern Colorado has
been the subject of an experiment.
on general scale, by DR.. E. B.
Creighton, of Manitou. that deserves
considerable attention. DR.. Creigh-
ton Is said to be close student of
the Campbell system of dry farming.
His experiments in tree growing
nave been SO successful that the
Colorado State Forestry association
is sending out circular describing
DIR. Creighton's method OF planting
and care of the trees
The experiment. consisted in the
planting of II, 900 trees near Kiowa,
in the esatern part of Elbert county,
about fifty miles northeast of Colo
RADIO Springs, where there is no water
for irrigation purposes. The plan
tation now presents picturesque
and thrifty growth Of young trees
consisting of $500 black Iocusts, 1000
hardy catalpa. 200 sugar maple and
100 each of ash, maple and elm. The
seedlings, from one to three feet In
height, we're planted in rows five
by eight feet apart in soil that had
been under cultivation for several
years. In fact, to grow trees sue
cessfully by this method, Thorough
pfepar ration Of the soil to insure
good seed bed aud soil reservoir, are
prime reqpisixes This gea.1n1p;
pflsiled sby Yaif pf6wiTg, foiffMed ID
the spring by discing. sub-soil pack
ing, narrowing and ross-harrowing
until the ground was Ia garden like
condition.
The only water these trees ever
received was when (after shipment
some 1900 miles) they were unpacked,
placed in rows in trenches, their
roots completely covered with mix
ture of earth and water and the
trunks protected by leaves and straw.
Here they remained awaiting the
planters. Planting was readily done
by from three to tive men, each tree
having the dirt we'll tamped about
the roots, a covering of dirt being
scraped about the base of each tree.
After planting, continuous cultiva-
tion during the growing season was
resorted to. This is absolutely nee
essary 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 cultivation not only pre-
vents the growth of weeds, which
would otherwise rob the trees Of
moisture and plant food, but keeps
the top soil open and prevents loss
by evaporation of an enormous amount
soil
The results Of following this
method has been with all the trees
we'll nigh perfect; by actual count
but six catalpa trees having perished
during their first summer out of
1000 trees. Growing trees by this
method was found to be compare
lively inexpensive and yet should
prove very profitable; in time sup
plying wood and posts. decreasing
effects OF wind storms, aiding In In
creasing rainfall and hel ping to store
moisture in the soil.
To those interested In the devel-
opment and prosperity OF eastern
Colorado. the success of this method
OF tree growing means great deal
and should prove good object les
son. for with the ever increasing
scarcity of timber, tree planting foH
posts, ties and other utility purposes,
should and doubtless will become
more general. Indeed we've ten per
cent of the land in eastern Colorado
| in trees (and the success of this ex-
pertinent shows that this is far from
impossible) that section would be
transformed from dreary grazing
expanse to rich agricultural coun-
+ try.
,, Mr.. and Mrs. D. G. DeWald anG
"