Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-05-27
liant Waste Land in Trees.

many farms, especially in the middle
and western portions Of North Caro-
lima, there is some field, the cult1va-
ton of which has not been profitable.
This may be due to various causes.
The slope of the lard may be either
too steep Or the surface too rough or
rocky or the soil too shallow for a
good farming soil, or perhaps the
field has been SO deeply quilted by
washing that it cannot be probably
reclaimed. Along some of the riv-
ers, and to less extent along the
creeks and small streams, there are
bottom lands which have been
cleared, but which cannot be cult
waited. Some of these bottom lands
are frequently flooded during high
water in the stream, causing the SOIL
to wash, or sand and gravel bars are
deposited over them, not only pre-
venting their use for growing cult
waited crops, but for growing grass as
we'll. Where lands Of this character
do not naturally restock in trees, they
can probably be planted in some de-
sirable species. This will not only
insure some earning from such land,
but will protect it from further wash
ing or deterioration. Occasionally a
field is only partially stocked with
trees or (and this is especially the
case on wet land) is being restocked
with Undesirable kinds Of trees, like
gums, alder, maple or willow. In
conditions like this, planting with a
desirable species to thicken the stand
will frequently add greatly to its ulti-
mate value. Such waste lands can be
planted during the winter, when there
might not be enough farm work to
keep labor employed.
Kinds of Trees to P.ant-Native
trees and those which are naturally
adaptable to the soil conditions
should be selected for planting. On
the uplands of the Piedmont the ma
tive pine is a desirable tree, especially
for raw and shallow soils. On slopes
or where the soils are not so dry or
raw the pine might be mixed with the
native red oak. Or bottom lands
which are not too wet, and ca lower
slopes, poplar and oak make a de-
sirable mixture, or ash can be substi-
tuted for a part of the oak. For
planting on wetter lands, ash, wal
nut and cottonwood are desirable
species. These trees make rapid
growth; they root quickly when
planted, and they make timber suit
able fer many farm uses. Second
growth poplar and cottonwood are
not held il high esteem in this State.
While they are not equal to pine for
many uses, they nevertheless produce
a timber which, when dried, is ser
v1ceable for weatherboarding, If kept
painted, and for all interior wood
work, except for flooring. The growth
OF white oak anG hickory is too slow
for them to be recommended for
planting, although young trees of
these species should be. protected
when growing in the forest. Ash and
poplar, both of them species of rapid
growth, cannot be expected to make
large trees on ordinary upland soils,
and should not be planted except on
the best soils, like lower slopes and
bottoms. Both black oak and span,
or Spanish oak, are inferior to red
oak, and for this reason should not
be nlaAted.
How to Collect Seedlings-Young
plants T1.sed from seeds in a seed bed
and having compact roots are SUI
perior to those which are gotten from
tho fo-ec+ II ron,iroc .houyouoc ~
least tTo years to grow specimens fol-
planting from the seed, while it is
possible at any THE to get enough
young trees from an old forest OF
from second-growth woods will
which to plant a small area. Rel
oak ac3 pine will be found abundan
near old trees Of these species on tn
uplands. Small poplars will b
abundant in second-growth or culle'
woods on steep north slopes ard i
hollows, while young ash will b
found on wet bottom land. Cotton
wood is not a very common tree, an
young trees Of that species are nc
common. Slips Or cuttings can b
taken from large trees of this specie
rooted in a garden bed and plante
in place Of Seeding plants, since i
cuttings root extremely easy. Youn
trees which are dug up for plantir
should be from one to two feet hig
They should be dug up with a sha1
mattcch or grub hoe, the roots bei1
broken as little as possible, and tn
should be heeled in a cool place al
protected from the sun until ready
plant. When lifted for planting fro
the trench in which heeled, the roo
should be kept covered with a W
sack. The hard woods should be c
back tWo-thirds, but the pines shou
not be cut back. Poplars have a lor
deep tap root, SO that only small spe
linens Of this species can be take
Broken and long roots should be c
off with q sharp Ratchet, as we'll
the tap root. 4
Preparation of Land-If the la
which is to ho. n'o-+-1 in +rnns g
DEAD MANS FACE
A phenomenon which has attre 1T