The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1924-07-17

Farmers Will Study Pine Crop at
Cloquet-Farmers' Day at the Clio
quet Forest Experiment Station has
been appointed for Monday, July 20.
The arrangements are in hands of
County Agent S. A. Aldrich, and it is
expected Dean w. C. Coffeya of the
university department of agriculture
and DR.. Raphtel Zon, director of the
Lake States Forest Experiment Sta
tion, will be present.
At their recent district meeting at
Cloquet, county agents of northeast
ern Minnesota were impressed with
the desirability of growing jack pine
and other trees as crops on certain
types of land. Farmers who visit the
station July % will be given the same
opportunity afforded the county
agents to see how the timber is
grown on the station lands and how
it is utilized by the wood using in
dustries in Cloquet.
It is expected the lessons of the
day will give the visitors a keener
appreciation of the value of their own
timber lots and of successive crops of
jack pine and other wood needed by
manufacturers.
~
Minnesota Special" Draws TO-
900 Visitors The minnesota Spec
ial," the state university's land clear
ing, crops and livestock feeding train,
attracted nearly 10000 persons to 16
demonstrations given in ID northern
Minnesota counties between June 9
and July a.
The definite goal set for each DEM
onstration was the clearing of tracts
of cutover land of all stumps and
stones, blowing and otherwise max
ing ready for the immediate planting
of some field crop. An average of
about two acres was cleared and
plowed at each of the Is demonstra-
tions.
General interest was taken in the
exhibits displayed in big baggage
car. Land clearing, livestock, and
crop improvement, farm buildings and
forestry were all featured in the ex-
hibits. Probably the model of a
home made silo, in building which
by-products of land clearing can Of
ten be utilized to advantage, was CIV
en- the most attention and study.
The evening meetings for the discus
sion of land clearing and general
farming topics were attended by au-
diences averaging 100 persons.
While the train was operated un-
der University of Minnesota auspices,
all the chief items of expense were
paid by the chief items of expense
were paid by the railroad and coop
Grating companies. The railway COM
panies furnished the cars and hauled
them from point to point without
charge. Splendid cooperation was
given by each company.
Snowshoe Rabbit Is Killing Young
Pine-Snowshoe rabbits are destroy
ing the little forest trees planted on
state and national forest reserves in
northern Minnesota, reports J. Kit
tredge, Jr., member of the Lake
States Forest Experiment Station at
University Farm, st. Paul
This fact does not constitute good
point or argument against the plant
ing of forest trees, for the young
natural timber growth is being dam
aged by the rabbits fully as much as
the planted stock. Rather, it is an
argument for the control of the rab-
bit menace to the young forest.
In the last ten years more than
5000 acres have been planted with
pines and spruce by the national and
state forest services. The little trees
did well until the last two years, says
Mr.. Kittredge. Now the rabbits
have become so numerous and are
eating the tips and needles so close
ly that the trees die. In some places
the destruction is already complete.
In most others severe damage has
been done.
After making a thorough examin-
alton Mr.. Kittredge says that 70
per cent of the planted white pines
in one area in the Minnesota Nation