The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-09
TELLS OF TREES
Secretary Whitney Gives List of
the Best Varieties.
Kansas HOrticulturists Given
Interesting Information.
HE RECOMMENDS EVERGREENS
Kansas Makes Wonderful Prog
ress in Horticulture.
State Is Divided Into Three
Sections in New Plan.

Scarcely more than a half century
ago the western portion of Kansas was
designated on the maps as the Great
American Desert" And the country
did not belle the name. The prairies
were, in truth, practically trackIess
and treeless.
The year 1921 tells different story,
however II any part of Kansas is not
now amply supplied with shade trees
1t is the fault of the inhabitants, de-
elares Q. f. Whitney, secretary of the
state Horticultural society. The only
problem is to plant the trees which
will grow in different kinds of soils
and with limited moisture.
Soft naples, boXelders, cottonwoods
and California poplars, varieties which
probably have been the most widely
planted, are not recommended as the
best for all sections, because they are
but short-lived, rcaehing their full de-
velopment in about fifteen or twenty
years and then dying
Special Attention to Evergreens.
Special attention is called to the
merits of the evergreens, or cone
bearing trees. These include some of
the hardest drouth-resistant trees
known, and several of them are adapt
ed to Kansas soil and climate. Their
rate of growth is nearly as rapid as
that of the broadleaved species. They
are said to be long-lived, compare
lively free from insect attack, and
suffer less injury from hail and wind
storms than the broadleaved kinds.
Their value for protective and orna-
mental planting is emphasized.
Many broadleaved trees, known
commercially as "hardwoods" are also
we'll adapted to eastern Kansas con-
ditions and the hardest of them grow
successfully in western Kansas. The
white elm is declared to be one of the
best trees for western Kansas, in fact,
for all parts of the state. This tree
Ft1s,
elm borer.
The Best Trees To Plant.
From the standpoint of tree culture
the state may be divided into three d.
visions. The first is eastern Kansas
as far west as the ninety-eighth mer-
idian. The western end of the state is
divided into two parts on the east and
west line formed by the Arkansas river
valley. The northwest section of the
state makes division No. 2, and the
southwestern section, division No. 3.
Charles Scott, a Manhattan nursery
man and former state forester, mas
prepared this list of trees suitable
for street and yard planting in each OF
the divisions.
District No. sugar or rock ma
pie, Norway or sycamore maple, pur-
pie Ieafed maple white oak, red oak, |
pin oak, burr oak, English oak. hack
berry, white elm. rock or cork elm, !
English elm. tulip tree, sycamore or
plane tree. orientalis sycamore, black
cherry. red bud, Kentucky coffee tree,
thornIess honey locust, Eastwood or
linden, linden or bee trees, white ash,
green ash. Among coniferous trees,
nearly all the pines and spruces are
suitable.
District No. 2@Thornless honey To-
Gust blackberry, white elm, green ash,
Russian wild olive, pa CODA tree, Usage
orange, red cedar, dwarf juniper, Chi
nese arbor vitae, Austrian pine, Scotch
pine.
District No. 3-Hackberry. Ewhite
elm. Russian wild olive, Russian null
berry (nonfruiting only, Kentucky
coffee tree, pagoda tree, red cedar,
Chinese arbot vitae, Austrian pine,
Scotch pine.
Depends on Soil.
"If the character of the soil is con-
genial and the weather conditions
ideal trees from four to six inches In
diameter and from sixteen to twenty
four feet in height may be safely
planted says the hints for tree plant
ing prepared by Scott. But during
periods of dry weather and high winds
trees of this size suffer great injury.
In my judgment trees of the broad
leaNed species, about two inches in
diameter. cut back to about eight feet
in height. recover more rapidly from
the shock of transplauting. The most
satisfactory conifers to plant are once
or twice transplanted trees that vary
from two to three feet in height.
Trees demand porous soil with
good drainage and yet capable for
supplying an ample amount of mois-
ture. To begin with. the hole in which
the tree is planted should be large
enough and deep enough to receive
the roots spread in their natural po-
sition. The soil should be tramped in
about the roots.
After planting, careful cultivation
< nepeSSa This consists in EPpniOer
an area at least six feet in diameter
about the tree thoroly spaded thruout
the summer This cultivation should
be continued for two or three years"
~ RhAVP