The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-05-21
FOREST PLANTING
Importance OF Setting out Trees
Wherever Needed
GOOD THING FOR FARMS
A Good Wood Crop Is a Very Des-
irabIe Thing Especially in
Prairie Country

III lut IulteQ states, per-
haps, is the need Of forest planting
greater than on the prairies of Min
nesota and the Dakotas. and nowhere
Is 1t more profitable for commercial
returns. Protection from wind and
storm is essential for well-being Of
the family, the stock, and the orch
ard. Indeed, in many cases it is the
presence and shelter Of belts of trees
about the farm buildings, with their
continuous supplies Of fuel, that mark
the distinction between the comfort
able home and the one wherein COM
fort is lacking. Owners estimate the
value Of good groves, on an average,
at 81 200 an acre, on the basis that
their property, if placed upon the
market, would be increased to that
extent by the trees. Bankers and land
agents take special note of thrifty
groves, for they have learned that
buyers are ready to pay for the pro-
lection and comfort of a grove. The
effectiveness of the grove as wind
break is determined largely by the
number and kinds Of trees planted
and their relative positions.
When planting for direct profit is
contemplated, inquiry becomes nee
essary into (D the market, (2) the
cost of production, and 60 the species
planted. AS a result Of the absence
of natural supplies, posts, poles and
fuel wood are shipped into this reg
ior from northern Minnesota at
freight rate of 10 cents a hunGrsd-
weight, or about $3.50 a cord This,
with the original selling price and
the dealers profit, brings the local
selling price up to from 81 70 $11
cord.
The value of the land is usually
the largest item in the cost of pro-
ducing a wood crop. Although the
best soil will produce timber most
rapidly, yet rough, sandy, or occa-
sicnally overflowed situations can al
So usually be utilized. In selecting
tree for commercial planting its
hardness il the climate is most i'm
portant. After that, rapidity of
growth and the quality of the wood,
especially its suitability to serve loc-
al demands, are considered.
Cottonwood ard white willow are
profitable On the deep, porous soils
of the river valleys. Seven cotton
wood groves yielded in lumber and
fuel an average annual net return
per acre of S1067, while eight groves
of white willow gave products of
posts and flcl equal to an average
annual net return of $24 per acre.
European larch and Scotch pine pro-
duce, respectively ret return per acre
Of $1193 and s1335 when planted on
upland, and would Go even better in
the river valleys. White spruce, Nor
way spruce, and western yellow pine
are also adapted for planting for
WlDQDTSdh pun pDS' >. III SpeClSS lOI
park, lawn, and roadside planting,
symmetry and gracefulness are i'm
pcrtant considerations.
Cuttings are usually used in estab-
fishing a plantation of willow or cot
tonwood. The expense is little or
nothing. Seedlings Of broadleaf trees
are easily procured. Unfortunately,
coniferGus stock is expensive. Con-
sidering, however, their high protec-
tive value in tie winter, and their
ability to resist drought, heat, cold
storm, and snow pressure, and the
quality CT tie wood produced, conifers
have proved more desirable for per-
manent plantations than broadleafs.
The foregoing facts and other in
formation and directions about plant
ing are contained in a publication en-
titled Forest Planting on the North
ern Prairie" recently issued by the
Forest Service. This publication can
be had free upon application to the
Forester at Washington.