The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-02-03
Nebraska's Example for North Dakota

ANCU1 uSAO y 0AOAIAPAO ~
A good deal Of thought has been given, OF late, 10
forestation in North Dakota.
In view Of what has been accomplished in experiments
at the Northern Great Plains experiment station at Man.
dan and at the state forestry school at Bottineau, the
example Of Nebraska forcsting on a big scale might be
something in the steps Of which this state might be able
to follow with good results.
Nebraska has reclaimed its barren sand hills or in is In
course Of retaining them by pNkting trees. J. {. Allen,
director Of Information service%n Nebraska. has been
writing about this project. He says the transformation of
Nebraska from q prairie and sandhil state, with much
barren land, has come about through the US Of natures
own weapon Of rogress-forestation The pioneers who
first came to the state picked the lands along the water
courses as most fertile and a~ffording shelter, fuel aud
water.
Later they learned that the bench and table lands were
Just as good, If not better, and when planted with tim
Der soon became changed in character and of steadily
increasing value. That same practice. but on q larger
scale, was adapted to the sandhills when the Nebraska
forest reserve was created In Nebraska by President
Roosevelt in 1902.
Two forested areas in the state have a combined acre.
age of 206,026 acres which formerly were entirely without
trees. In fact, in places overgrazing had virtually de-
uuded the soil of its only vegetation, the sandhil grasses
and weeds.
The first planting Of trees took place in 1908 when
10000 jack pine, pulled in the forests of Minnesota, and
$4,000 western yellow pine seedlings from the Black Hills
were p!2nteQ IN one DIVISION. Since tnat Time lI'VVU ACRES
have been successfully planted.
The same year that the planting was started a nursery
was established near Halsey. From q very humble be-
ginning this nursery has increased in annual production
from a few thousand seedlings to the present capacity OF
100000 trarSplants.
The greater portion Of the output is planted directly on
The national forest land and no small portion is being
furnished to the state extension department of the Uni
versity Of Nebraska for distribution to farmers who are
interested in planting windbreaks or wood lots.
The older trees in the Bessey reserve have now reached
the size where trimmings are necessary and trees 40 feet
high are common. This Is a remarkable growth for the
short time that they have been in the field and is
silent but powerful example to the farmers Of the state II
planting timber on their farms.
The reserve at Halsey is also used by local stockmcr
as summer pasture for their cattle and horses. The rang,
IS so managed that there is no harm to the trees ane
there IS benefit to both the range itself and the stool
that pastures there.
"A band of Is deer make their home In the shelter G
the forest reserve. Quail. prairie chicken, pin tail grous
end other wild life are also common. The reserve thu
affords Z shelter and breeding place for certain form
6 Wild life that are becoming scarce throughout thu
rate.
why can't North Dakota do something like thi,
Nehtaska experiment?