FORI]ST PLANTING IN EASTERN NEBRASKA. 139 



safety far north of the Platte River. On account of its low-branching 

 habit it is one of the best of trees for windbreaks, either in belts or in 

 single rows. Many orchardists prefer it, for the birds feed upon its 

 fruit instead of the fruit of the orchard. 



As a post timber Russian mulberry is excellent, since the wood is 

 exceedingly durable in contact with the soil. Its profuse branching 

 habits, however, make it difficult to secure a large yield of posts. Its 

 fuel value is relatively high but the cordwood yield is low. 



WHITE ELM. 



White elm, though one of the hardiest trees native to the state, does 

 not have a very large place in economic planting, but in the ornamental 

 planting should have first rank. 



The chief value of elm in economic planting is as a filler with such 

 more useful trees as black walnut, catalpa, ash, honey locust, etc. 



LOMBARDY POPLAR. 

 A large amount of Lombardy poplar has been planted in Cache Creek 

 Valley to prove up timber claims. Frequently also it has been set out 

 in single rows. The tree succeeds unusually well in this region, making 

 a good growth and showing no inclination to become stagheaded, as in 

 the plains states. It should be planted guardedly, however, since it is 

 quite generally a failure elsewhere in Nebraska. 



BLACK LOCUST. 

 On account of insect enemies, black locust is an absolute failure in 

 the territory covered by this investigation. Not one successful plantation 

 was noted, although the species has been planted to some extent in most 

 of the region, especially in the southern counties. On account of the 

 ease with which it may be propagated, its rapid growth, and its great 

 durability in the ground, it is one of the most valuable of trees for forest 

 planting wherever it will succeed, but at present it can be recommended 

 in eastern Nebraska. In parts of western Nebraska it succeeds fairly 

 well. Near Paxton, in Keith county, are two splendid young plantations 

 that were put out about 1891. 



OTHER BROADLEAF TREES. 

 Hackberry, basswood, and bur oak are other species that are hardy 

 for eastern Nebraska. The first two are rapidly coming into favor as 

 street trees. Bur oak has high value both for posts and fuel, but on 

 account of its slow growth its use in economic planting is limited. Wild 

 black cherry may prove to be a useful tree for the region. It has made 

 an unusually rapid growth on the station grounds at Lincoln in the 

 eight or nine years it has been tried there, but whether it will be 

 long lived is problematic. Coffeetree is a valuable species which may 

 he planted with safety. Russian golden willow is*proving hardy under 

 Nebraska conditions. For windbreaks it is one of the best trees that 

 can be planted. It is also very ornamental. 



