Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-19

cuttings the size of a pencil planted in
the spring. In Minnesota they have made
trees fifty-five feet tall and seventeen
niche in diameter in twenty years. Thoy
much resemble the Carolinas. There is a
difference in the leaves, Those of the Nor
way fall earlier in the fall, and there are
other marks which make the difference.
There has been an immense demand for
the cuttings, eager calls for them in the
south, and also In the east, for excelsior
and wood pulp. because they must have
trees which bring the speediest results pos
sible.
Question of Fence Posts.
The question of fence posts is an impor-
tant one. Lumber dealers in York esti-
mate that this county alone uses $40, 900
worth of posts, Think of the tremendous
cost each year for the whole state-$2, 900, 900.
and all of this should be kept at home.
The farm is an empire of itself, subject to
the laws Of any other kingdom. II you
want to be prosperous, your exports must
exceed your imports. If you pay out all
you you cannot get ahead.
Think Of the tremendous tax for lumber.
posts and fuel, This might be stopped in
a few years.
In the early days Of Minnesota, we found
a green poplar thrown On the ground WOulu
be rotten In two or three years. But
when a fire went through a forest, killing
the poplars and they stood there until
the bark peeled off. then used for posts
they would last for years. We have noted
the same thing in the Rockies. l have cut
Norway poplars for posts when four years
old and had them measure fifteen inches
around three feet from the ground. BY
cutting and peeling these in August, let
ting them dry and then throwing the butts
on a burning brush pile until slightly
charred you will have a sudden fence
post that will last for years, These could
be made out of the Trimmings Of your plan
tation, giving the rest a better chance to
grow. Should you plant four feet apart
you must soon cut out alternate rows and
then in a year or two cut one-half the rows
running in the other direction, leaving
the trees eight feet apart. In a few years
you repeat the process, leaving them six
teen feet apart each way when they will
make saw logs. By planting close at first
you insure straight trees, and when they
have formed a habit of growing up in.
stead of wasting themselves in side
branches you are sure. of good material
for lumber. The Norway more than any
other tree retains it's size as It mounts
upward. Cuttings of the Norway can nov
be secured for s. per 1000 feet. But you
need not wait for them.
You note a row Of cottonwood; there
you see some that are gnarled and crooked,
and you know by the looks they would
be hard to split. Then there are others
with straight limbs and smooth trunks
which you could split easily. Get cut
tings from these and you will be surprised
at the results. Cottonwood and poplars
are sometimes troubled with borers, but II
you plant in large quantities the danger
will be so distributed It will not amount to
much.
The CataIpa Tree.
1 had the pleasure OF meeting several
Of the United States government Inspect
ors. who carefully went through several
Of the Kansas catalpa q plantations, and
their report was very encouraging. In
some Instances the mistake had been made
Of planting too close together. Four feet