ILLINOIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 265 



Mr. John Crossman, of this township, an extensive feeder of cattle, believes that his evergreen 

 prrove, occupying less than an acre of land, was wortli $200 in sheltering his stock through one storm 

 a few winters since. A tliousaud dollars, he sajs, would be refused for this grove: a strong argu- 

 ment in favor of tlie universal planting by residents on prairies of timber for shelter. 



The attention of other stock growers in this vicinity is being turned to the sulyect, and in:niy of 

 tliem are preparing, liy purchasing small evergreens at tritling exiiense, to plant shelter lielts, pre- 

 ferring them to shells, as owing to the limited space in the latter, they are occupied during storms 

 by the strongest cattle to the exclusion of the weak ones, which need tl>e protection most, Groves 

 and shelter belts of rapid growing trees can lie grown of size to be a good protectb>n in five or six 

 years, at merely a nominal cost. 



If each owner of ai)rairle farm would plant for his own necessity, the country at large would, in 

 a few years, be exempt from the full force of the terrilde gales, which in some instances sweep over 

 our prairies willi but little let or liindrance from the Kocky Mountains to Michigan, when the 

 mercury is twenty or more degre(!S below zero, before wliicli aninuil life, without extracu-dinary 

 protection, can not exist. 



For one of the best cheap screens of rapiil growth, the White Willow is recommended, A cutting 

 of it, planted on bank of a sod fence, spring of 1845, never receiving any attention, now measures 

 twelve feet and live inches in circumference, two feet above ground. It is a more desirable timber 

 than has generally been supposed, 



IMr, Jesse W, Fell, of P.loomiugton, brought from ('hesler counly, I'a., last summer, a piece of 

 White Willow rail, which ha<l been twenty-seven years in fence; saw fence stakes in use wliicli 

 were set eight years since; were seasoned before setting. Ground inlende<l for planting should be 

 in good cn-der foi- orilinary farm crop. Cuttings eight inclies to a foot in length are set three-fourths 

 their length in the ground— dirt ]>r(ssed firmly at the bottom— are certain to grow, if in good con- 

 dition when ])lante(l. A more rapid growth is oblained by using cuttings an inch or more in diame- 

 ter, though those an eiglith of an inch or even less succeed well with proper care. Hows may be 

 four or five feet apart, running north and south, two feet apart in the row; cultivate three years. 

 The thinnings first seven years will repay all cost, or if all cut down, enough can be grown on an 

 acre to make three miles offence five poles in helglil. wliieh will last until an Osage liedge can be 

 grown. Sprouts grow vigorously from the stumps: can be cut in four years again. It is largely 

 grown in Geruuiny for fuel, cutting it every third or fourth year. Evergreens are, of course, the 

 best trees for screens, and are not expeu.-5ive at present, but reijuire more time to become of size for 

 an efficient screen. Norway Spruce lias no superior for large or medium sized screens. Double 

 rows are generally planted, alternating tlie trees in one row with spaces in the next. They mav be 

 set ten or twelve feet apart— plants two to four feet in height are of desirable size. For single row, 

 six to tight feet apart is suitalile distance. Hedges are made of it in Denmark, plants three feet in 

 the row. They bear clipping to any desired extent. The American Arbor Vita' makes a good 

 screen of medium height, especially in wet soils, lleadock is very beautiful, especially in partially 

 shaded locations. The I'ines in general are well adapted for planting in clumps or groves. 



It is well to intersperse and surrouml them when grown for timber, with deciduous trees of rapid 

 growth, to protect the leading shoots from being broken oft" l)y high winds before they acquire 

 woody fibre. For this purpose the European Larch is admirably adapted, and will doubtless be 

 largely used in the plantations to be made on our prairies. 



Enough has already been- done by a few individuals to establisli the fact of the practicability of tlie 

 work, and that it will prove a very profitable investment. 



Henry C. Chapnuiii, of Sublett, Lee county, bouglit one thousand small Norway Spruce a i'L'n- 

 years since. He tliis winter refused an ofter of the amount originally invested and one hundred per 

 cent, per annum, preferring to plant them in screens for his own use. 



The planting of timber for agricultural and manufacturing purposes will doubtless receive at the 

 hands of this Society the pre-eminent place in its deliberations which its im))ortance demands, as so 

 ably set forth by our President in his opening address. 



Whilst Kansas, Iowa, and Wisconsin have nobly led the way in giving encouragement to the 

 perfornnince of this imperative duty we owe ourselves and posterity, it is ln:)pe<l that the Constitu- 

 tional Convention of our State now in session, and future Legislatures, will follow the worthy 

 example set us by our younger sister States, that future generations may not have just occasion to 

 cast invidious reflections upon us for want of foresight, or the manliness to act for the benefit ot 

 others, even though we may thereby incur exi)ense to ourselves. 



May we as individuals and as a nation act from high and unse fish motives, endeavor to leave the 

 world better than we find it; live not to ourselves, but for all time and eternity, 



SAJIUEL EDWARDS. 



Mr. Scofield would plant forest trees three feet each way. 

 Mr. Foster, of Iowa, read an essay on the same subjeet. 



18* 



