Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1908-05-22
F0RES
Plan TING
Bulletin Issued by the Gov.
ernnent Forest Service
at Washington.

Nowhere in the United States. perhaps,
is the need Of forest planting greater than
on the prairies Of Minnesota and the OAK
commercial returns. Protection from wind
and storm is essential for the well-being of
the family the stock and the orchard. In
deed, in many cases it is the presence and
shelter of belts of trees about the farm
buildings, with their continuous supply of
fuel, that mark the distinction between the
comfortable home and the one wherein
comfort is lacking. Owners estimate the
value of good groves on an average, Of ST.
600 an acre, on the basis that their pro-
oerty, if placed on 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 protection
and comfort of grove. The effectiveness
of the grove as a windbrake is determined
largely by the number and kinds of trees
planted and their relative positions.
When planting for direct profit is con-
templated. inquiry becomes necessary into
(1)>the market. (2) the cost of production.
and (3) the species planted. As result
of the absence of natural supplies, posts
poles. and fuel wood are shipped into this
region from northern Minnesota at a
freight rate of 10 cents a hundredweight,
or about $3.50 cord. This with the
original selling price and the dealers
profit, brings the local selling price up to
from 81 to $11 a cord.
The value of land is usually the largest
item in the cost of producing wood crop
Although the best soil will produce timber
most rapidly, yet rough, sandy, or occas
ionally overAowed situations can also usu
ally be utilized. In selecting tree fo,
commercial planting its hardness in the
climate and situation is most important
After that, rapidity of growth and the
quality Of wood. especially its suitability te
serve local demands are considered.
Cottonwood and white willow are
river valleys. Seven cottonwood grove!
yielded in lumber and fuel an average
annual net return per acre of $1o.67
while eight groves of white willow gave
products of posts and fuel equal to al
average annual net return of $24 per acre
European larch and Scotch pine produce
respectively. an annual return per acre o
$11.93 and $13.35 when planted on up
land, and would do even better in tn,
river valleys. White spruce, Norwa.
spruce, and western yellow pine are ais
adapted for planting for windbreak pur
poses. In species for park. lawn, ant
roadside planting, symmetry and graceful
ness are important considerations.
Cuttings are usually used in establishing
a plantation of willow or cottonwood
The expense is little or nothing. Seed
lings of broadleaf trees are easily pro
cured. Unfortunately, coniferous stock
expensive. Considering, however, thei
high protective value in the winter, an
their ability to resist drought, heat, cole
storm, and snow pressure, and the qualit
Of the wood produced. conifers hav
proved more desirable for permaner
plantations than broadleafs.
The foregoing facts and other inform:
tion and directions about planting al
contained in publication entitle
Forest Planting on the Norther
Prairies. recently issued by the Fore
Service. This publication can be ha
free upon application to the Foreste
at Washington.