Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1913-07-31
tpx NoRnAn M. ROSS. ,

southwest portion Of Alberta 1t 10
claimed by some that 1t cannot be 70
lied upon. Probably the warm Chinook
winds occurring In the winter AFFECT
It adversely in certain season. How.
ever. good healthy specimens growing
at Calgary. Lethbridge, Macleod.
Cardston and elsewhere In this district
would indicate that the tree IL sum
GENTLY hardy to entitle is to place in
the list Of those varieties suitable for
planting in that region.
From the results Of the plantations
oct out from 1901 to 1906 1t would
seem that after all tho box elder, al.
though successful in certain cases,
docs not on the whole seem AZ suit
able for general planting west OF Swim
Current as other varieties, such as thu
ash. elm. Russian poplar.
In Its native state 1t Is generally
found growing in river or creek bot.
toms. or on rich moist soil. In Mani
toba 1t attains height of from forty
to nifty feet, and reaches diameter
OF from sixteen to twenty inches. 1t IL
naturally OF very branchy, irregula,
habit OF growth, the main trunk divid-
Ing into two or more stems either al
or few feet above the ground.
uses-The present value Of this
tree has In the west is for windbreaks.
~ It grows rapidly and branches pro
fusely. 1t Is exceptionally easy TO
propagate and transplant. and will
adapt itself to great variety Of con-
ditious. 1t will stand considerable
drought on the high prairies. but on
very wet or very dry soil growth Is
much slower. and consequently, this
tree should never be planted in such
places. except perhaps to I'LL up
plantation composed Of more suitable
varietiea
Owing to Its extreme hardness and
wide range, the box elder will prove
one of the most valuable trees in for.
est plantation throughout the west
In the capacity Of O nurse to other
more tender and desirable kinds. It
u . moderate shade bearer. and would
help to form good soil cover planted
In mixture with such trees as ash,
cottonwood and other matchmaking
varieties. From the fact that It is
easy to propagate and obtain young
seeding of this box elder, 1t has been
very widely used through the west for
avenue and street planting. 1t Is not,
however. especially adapted for this
purpose. as 1t requires great amount
Of pruning and care to bring into
proper form and keep the top from be-
coming straggly and heavy. Az an
avenue tree 1t suffers considerably
from heavy winds and early snowfalls.
and the trunk Is frequently damaged
b.. sun scald, which causes the bark
to crack on the south or southwest
side. making an unsightly scar and
laying the inner wood open to the at
lacks Of fungi. which sooner or later
will cause the decay OF the stem.
I 1t leafs out very early in the spring.
which Is one point in its favor. but
With the exception Of the ash. 1t Is the
first tree to lose 1t foliage In the fall.
The wood OF the box elder Is hard
and close. grained. 1t makes excellent
fuel, and II properly peeled and SEA.
soned should last we'll as fence post
Propaaation.-The box elder Ia pro.
pagated only by seed. Large crops OF
good seed are borne after the tree
reaches the age OF about eight years.
and are produced Utmost every year.
Seed Is borne only on the pistillate or
female tree; the starminate or male
tree does not bear seed. The seed
ripens, according to the season, from
the end Of September to the middle
OF November. and should be picked
after the fret heavy fall frost, which
causes many of the leaves to drop of,
thus making the collection Of the
seeds the more easy. After picking.
the seed should be thoroughly dried by
spreading It over floor or outside In
the sun, after which 1t should be bag
ged and stored in a dry building Box
elder seed properly cured and kept In
a dry place will retain its vitality for
q number OF years. When fresh the
terminating percentage averages from
90 to 10 per cent. This percentage
of course decreases according to the
age OF the seed.
The seed should be shown in the
spring. about may is. 80 that the
young seedlings may terminate when
there Is the least danger from late
frosts and high winds.
The best method OF planting the
seed Is to place 1t In drills from one
and half to two inches deep. and
far enough apart to admit Of thorough
cultivation between the rows. II
horse labor is to be used. thirty inches
is about the right distance. The seed
should be sown rather thickly, at the
rate OF about twenty grains per run.
ming foot.
Care Of soedline.-During the grow
Ing season the seedlings should be
constantly cultivated, never allowing
the surface soil to become baked. Gull
tivation should not be carried on later
than the beginning of August in or
der that the plants may be induced to
stop growing and give them time to
harden up before the severe fall frosts
II growth is continued on too late in
the season the young plants are sure
to be cut back. and perhaps SO badly
damaged as to be no use for trans
planting in the following spring.
Box elder seedlings. II properly
grown. should be transplanted at one
year old into the permanent planta-
ton Sometimes they may be left In