Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-05-26
Plant Waste. Land. in Trees.

many farms, especially IN Ine mlQole
and western portions of North Caro-
lima, there is. Some field, the cultiva-
tion of which has not been profitable.
This may be due to various causes.
The slope Of the lald 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 prohtably
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 culti-
vated.4 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 culti-
waited crops. but for growing grass as
well. Where lands OF this character
do not naturally restock In trees, they
can profitably be planted In scme 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 fand 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. Sucn waste lands can be
planted during the winter, when there
might not be enough farm work to
keep labor employed.
Kinds Of Trees to Plant-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. On bottom lands
which are not. too wet, and on lower
slopes, poplar and oak make de-
sirable mixture, or ash can be substi-
tuteG for 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 for many farm uses. Second
growth poplar and cottonwood are
not held in high esteem in this State.
While they are not equalto pine for
many uses, they nevertheless produce
a timber which, when dried, is SER
viceable for Notwithstanding, 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 planted.
How to Collect Seedlings Young
plants raised from seeds in a seed bed
and having compact roots are su-
perior to those which are gotten from
the forest. 1t requires, however, at
least two years to grow specimens for
planting from the seed, while it is
possible at any time to get enough
young trees from an old forest or
from second-growth woods with
which to plant small area. Red
oak and pine will be found abundant
near old trees of these species on the
uplands. Small poplars will be
abundant in second4grow.h or culled
woods on steep north slopes andisin
A-SAAS"S, yOunS doA WALL US
found on wet bottom land. Cotton
wood Is not a very common tree, and
young trees of that species are not
common. Slips or. cuttings can be
taken from large trees Of this species,
rooted in garden bed and planted
in place of Seeding plants, since its
cuttings root extremely easy. Young
trees which are dug up for planting
should be from one to two feet high.
They should be dug up with sharp
mattock or grub hoe. the roots being
broken as little as possible, and they
should be heeled in a cool place and
protected from the sun until ready to
plant. When lifted for planting from
the trench in which heeled, the roots
should be kept covered with wet
sack. The hard woods should be cut
back two-thirds, but the pines should
not be cut back. Poplars have long,
deep tap root, SO that only small spec
linens Of this species can be taken.
Broken and long roots should be cut
off with a sharp hatchet, as we'll as
the tap root. -
Preparation of Land-If the land
which is to be planted in trees can
MEAN ma ht,C EScE ~