Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 January 1909 — TREE PLANTING. [ARTICLE]

TREE PLANTING.

In no section of the country is the problem of reforesting denuded lands likely to be given more serious consideration in the future than In the lake states, where so much of the land has already been made bare by wasteful lumbering and forest fires. That well directed planting is sure to do much for this region is proven by many who have already had success in the work. One of the Interesting accounts of recent experiments in planting forest trees has just been given by a correspondent of the United States forest service living In Lae Qul Parle county, Minnesota. This planting was done with the principal object in view of establishing shelter belts for the protection of farm buildings and stock, and the results will doubtless Interest many farmers of the northern prairie region. The first planting was done in April, 1906, and consisted of two forest plantations, one of five acres and one of one and one-half acres. Both of these plantations are located on level, deep, upland soil. The first comprises an equal mixture of green ash and white elm planted In rows six feet apart with the trees four feet apart in the rows. One-year-old nursery-grown seedlings, 5 Inches high, were used. The smaller plantation was of western yellow pine planted in rows 10 feet apart with the trees eight feet apart In the rows. Young transplanted trees of a foot or more in height were used. Thorough and carefull cultivation has been given both plantations with a small-shoveled, one-horse cultivator. There haVe been no losses at all In the ash and elm plantation and the trees now average about six feet high. The stand of pine is 98 per cent perfect and the trees average about 22 inches high. It is likely that the spacing of the pine plantation will be found too wide for the best development of the pines, and considerably closer spacing is generally advisable. In April, 1908, near the same location two acres were planted with jack pine. The stock was three-year-old transplanted trees grown on the farm by the owner. They were planted six feet apart each way. At the same time four acres of black walnut and box elder were planted in mixture, alternating the trees In rows six feet apart each way. It is the intention of the owner to remove the box elder trees as soon as crowding begins, so that the black walnuts will stand 12 feet apart each way.