The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1919-06-17


When shelter belts are planted on !
The plains of the Northwest it is neces-
,ary, in order to get the trees well es-
tablished, to cultivate them to keep
down all grass and weeds until the
trees are well started and are large
enough to shade the ground.
One summers growth of Russian
lhistles or western wheat grass may
kill a previously healthy shelter belt
Of two or three years standing. they
add Artificial mulching of shelter
belt trees with straw, manure or any
similar material is not recommended,
nor is pruning, except to remove dead
made an abnormally low. bushy
growth.
The trees should be cultivated with
4 one-horse cultivator until about the
middle of August to keep down weeds,
particularly the western wheat grass.
often called "blue STEM" This grass
will form sod In one season of growth
On newly broken ground. and If not
removed as soon as 1t starts is very
difficult to kill. If allowed to spread
blowing, which is not the proper treat
nent for the shelter belt, will be nee
essary After cultivation is discontin
ued hand hoeing is necessary to con-
troll the Russian thistle, tumbling mus.
tard, and other quick growing large
weeds. These weeds not only use need
ed soil moisture, but cause further
trouble by disseminating seed.
Artificial mulching may be harmful
in many ways, such as furnishing har-
bors for mice, introducing weed seeds,
and increasing danger from fires.
When trees become too large and
close together for cultivation, the fall
ing leaves will form their own mulch,
which is the natural forest condition
lnder which the trees will best
thrive.
Don't Prune Trees.
A thick, dense growth Is the only
proper method of growing shelter
oelt, and this is best obtained by not
pruning the trees. Imprinted trees
furnish shade from the hot sun and
Try wind, their bushy tops furnish bet
Ter protection from sun scald, and
hey will soon shade the ground. Un-l
Ter exceptional conditions, however,
pruning Is justified. Dead wood, Of
course, should be removed. Young
trees that have been frozen to the
ground for few years in succession
will become too bushy at the base.
To increase their height, and to stimu-
late an upward growth it is necessary
to cut the branches, except one at the
ground close to the trunk. Allow the
remaining branch to become the leader
Of the new trunk. and do not prune the
branches that 1t sends out.
Animal Pests.
Jack rabbits are the worst animal
pests with which the grower of trees
in the northern great plains area has
to contend. They especially prefer
elm and ash, but will cut the poplar
and willow branches which protrude
from the snow In the winter. These
destructive animals can be controlled
by poison bait, which is also effective
in killing mice and other rodents. Poi
soned oats, poisoned alfalfa leaves and
strychnine washes are best for this
purpose. When poisoned bait is being
used, care should be taken to fence
out all stock, which is O good prac-
tice at all times when the trees are
getting started, for the stock will often
cause serious injury by eating the
branches and leaves.
Fighting Insect Foes.
In caring for the shelter belt II Is
often necessary to employ the same
methods that are used by fruit growers
in combating insect enemies. Spray
ing with lead arsenate will control the
poplar beetles, which cause destrnc-
tive results to the foliage and subse-
quent death of many kinds of trees
used in shelter-belt paintings. To be
more effective the spraying should be
done when the leaves are about half
grown, but If a heavy temperance
of the beetles occurs 1t will be neces-
sary to repeat the treatment. The
lead arsenate spray also controls the
large green wormlike larvae of certain
moths which are common and very de-
structive to the foliage of poplar end
box elders, and which sometimes an.
pear in such numbers as to eat all
the leaves on young tree in sh Ort
time. Leaf miners, leaf-cutter bees,
and blister beetles are also common
to shelter-belt trees and are controlled
by poison sprays.
Trees in this section have only
few serious diseases, among which are
canker, which affects poplars and
disease of willows, which turns the
branches black. The first-named dis
ease appears as a swelling on the side
of the trunk or at n crotch AS it nd
vances the center parts of the affected
wood die and the bark breaks away
and If the canker girdles the tree 1,
will die. The only safe course whom
canker appears is to root out the tree
and burn 1t, or If noted In the ear
Her stages severe pruning should be
practced. Unless the branch on which
the canker occurs is cut back for some
distance below the outside swelling
pruning does little good. The disease
OF willows begins at the tip of the
branches, and may be controlled by
cutting the limbs back below the af-
fected parts.