The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-03-20
Advises Planting
Nut Bearing Trees

AS Arbor Day is approaching, ano
preparations are being made, on
more or less extensive scale for the
planting of trees will you kindly
permit me to make a suggestion to
the school districts Of the. state? AS
| is we'll known there are no nut bear
| ing trees indigenous to Utah, with
the exception of certain conifers anu
the shrub oaks of the mountains;
but the pine nuts and acoins, deriV
ed from these sources, are OF little
value, and count for nothing among
the products of the state. The vaiua-
bic and beautiful nut trees OF the
eastern states are practically un'
known here, although in our latitude
they will thrive, and bear perfect
fruit. My suggestion is, that on Ar
Dor Day next, every school district
i'm the state plant at least one nut
bearing tree on its school grounds,
and celebrate the event with appro-
pirate exercises. The selection need
not be limited to one species or one
variety, for certain trees Will Hour
ish in one locality and languish in an
other. However, in every school
district of Utah, having an elevation
of less than $500 feet, the following
nut trees will accommodate them
selves in fertile soil to the local eli
matte conditions, and some Of them
at attitudes considerably greater.
English walnuts, butternuts, beech
nuts. American sweet chestnuts, nick
ory nuts, filberts, pecans and ALMONDS.
Apparently, the least hardy OF these
are the pecans, but even they have
withstood the rigors of the past win
ter. and all of the others are grow
ing in the locality and becoming no
bile trees. The butternut or white
walnut as it is sometimes called,
has fruited in Cache Valley for sew
eral years. and it's annual crop is
borne unfailingly.
It is unnecessary to point out the
many advantages which would accrue
to the state from this methodical
planting of nut trees, but its effects
would soon be seen in an Increased
enthusiasm for nut culture. There
are few trees longer lived, more beau
tiful or valuable than some members
of the nut bearing family, and their
propagation should be encouraged by
every means in our power. There
are, perhaps, 700 school houses with
in the borders of Utah and nut
tree added to the grounds OF each
would mark the beginning Of new
era in the identifying and develop
ment of our beloved state.
The great commonwealth OF Mis-
sissippi. with between 5000 and TO-
600 school houses, adopted this plan
on their last Arbor day, January zz'
lust past, and planted nut tree on
the grounds of every school house IN
the state. The tree selected was
the pecan, by reason of its great
longevity, excellent shade and eco
nomic benefits. AS soon as the gov
errors proclamation was Issued the
state superintendent OF instruction.
mailed to the different schools OF the
state programs to be used at the
tree planting exercises, Here Is a
practical example that we could well
follow, though the writer would sug'
gest English walnuts, or American
sweet chestnuts, or butternuts In
place of the pecan, except in the low
er attitudes.
There is ample time in which to
secure these trees before Arbor day
II the proper officials will endorse
| and authorize the movement, The
attention of the state superintendent
of public instruction is respectfully
invited to the matter. Joseph A
Smith in Deseret News.