Year: 1877

Tree Culture.


A brother granger, who came the 9TH
er day to compare notes on the potato
crop, and exchange mutual coincidence
on the awful ravages Of the mules, asked
me to write something on the above topic,
rashly basing his belief that knew some
thing of it, upon the fact that my trees
chanced to grow and his didn't.


Now this being subject upon which
am profoundly ignorant, 1 would shrink
from the task Of its discussion, were it
not for the almost universal precedent
established by our latter day sages, for
people to talk most of that which they
know least, so, for once, I'll be in the
fashion. !, -, TN. -,


Col. Thompson, it is well known. is.
1.-THE acknowledged champion Treeist Of
Burleigh county. Certainly he has done
as much, both by precept and example,
to beautify our town in this respect, as
any one init; besides he possesses the
culture and expe1ience-of which can
not boast-to discuss the subject intelli-
gently and from scientific standpoint,
and hope, MIR. Editor, that he, will.
through your columns, say something on
the subject for our guidance. In the
meantime, should an infallable rule be
asked to make cottonwood tree grow,
in spite of itself, would reply, "Ask Col.
Thompson's advice, and 1ol1ov it,


The chief features of Col. Thompson's 8
method-which is the one generally
adopted here-are, so far as l have OBJ
served, an early taking up of. the tree in
the spring, thorough trimming or lop-
ping off Of all the limbs, until the stem
resembles bean-pole or lifeless stick in
appearance, and replanting in a trench,
from which the sod has been removed,
setting the roots deep but leaving de-
preston several feet in extent, around
the trunk Of the tree, to collect rain-ws-
ter and convey its moisture to the roofs.


The object in thus decapitating the
tree, am told, is that the sap may be
directed downward to the root, and the
entire forces of the tree employed in
Strengthening and developing this under
ground foundation to the .leafy edifce
that will build itself upon the summit
when the lower portion is perfected. .aaG


But DIR. Slaughter, who sees every
thing in a professional light, exclaims
against the practice of mutilating the
branches of the tree, maintaining that
the leaves are its organs of respiration
and to deprive it of the limbs that con-
tain the swelling buds is equivalent to
destroying the lungs of a human subject.
Again, the sap is the blood of the tree and
its loss from hacking of the branches in
duces a weakness corresponding to that
felt by a living beng after correspond
ing loss of the vital fluid. ?
! In short, if tree that has been sub.
Iiected to this heroic treatment, survives,
tits owing wholly to sl-illful surgery and
careful nursing,-and not to the treat
ment itself. Besides, tree transplanted
from its native position to foreign spot,
receives shock to its nervous system, as
1t were, and when, to this is added the
amputation of the chief organs of its ex.
istence and consequent loss Of its life es-
sence, the chances for its recovery are
extremely doubtful
! The Doctor, therefore, digs trench,
or correctly speaking, he gets somebody
else to dig H,,-not very deep that the
roots may spread evenly near the sur
face, instead of striking downward into a
Iclayey or inferior subsoil.-The tree is re-
moved early in the spring with all its
branches intact, or if necessary to re-
f1nove some of them SO as to give the top
a round bushy form the wound is care
fully covered with wax made of bees
wax and rosin. Much water is employ
ed III planting so as to consolidate the
soil around the roots, the adjacent earth
being thoroughly loosened with the
spade, that the growing roots may readi-
Ily penetrate it. A mixture of loan Or
compost is then thrown in, and the turf
replaced and beaten down firmly.


One half of my trees, one hundred OF
more, have been planted according to the
Thompson method, and the other halt
according to the Slaughter theory. With
the exception of eight that were eaten up,
!. s4root and branch, by the mules, they
are all growing finely.


It may seem like presumption on nay
part to differ from these two learned
gentlemen, but would like at least to
demolish the Doctors theory, and prove
the unlikelihood of any analogy existing
between the physiology Of tree and the
circulatory system Of the human frame,
, but there is an appendix to his theory
which directs, that the tree en- transit
from It's forest home to its new abode
must not be slanted from the perpendicu-
lar but carried uprightly, and planted
again in precisely the same position, zui1
tie same side to tile north, as before, 50 as
70 preserve the equilibrium and harmonize
with the polar and electric currents
I and this opens an avenue into a fanthom-
less sea of philosophy, into which lest I
should get beyond my depth I forbear to
follow.


have little theory Of my own which
l propose to test thoroughly when the
proper time comes It is to transplant
!! The tree late in the fall, when its leaves