i;i8 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the subject of tree planting and forestry by Mr. Williams. The subject 

 is now open for a brief discussion to those who want to ask any ques- 

 tions, or offer anything further on the subject. 



Mr. Taylor: I do not know whether the cottonwood varies in this 

 state, as it does with us. We have apparently two varieties, one very 

 straight and straight grained, while with the other the different growths 

 seem to be weaved together. So it will pay you to select your trees. 



Mr. Pollard: I think it would be a good plan to plant some hardwood 

 trees, as he says the supply is being exhausted. Hickory, oak and black 

 walnut will grow just as well as your cottonwood will; they do not 

 grow as fast. I have cottonwood trees that would make saw logs now. 

 Why not advocate some hardwood such as I have named, and then we 

 would have wood suitable for furniture. Cottonwood is not good for 

 anything unless you get the right kind. This man has the right idea; 

 there is the yellow and the white kinds; the yellow is very nearly as 

 good as this Indira poplar. The white one you can split with a maul 

 and wedge, but if you get the board sawed it will roll all over your lot, 

 and when you put it in fences they will crawl off. Cottonwood will die 

 of old age at fifty years and then it will never sprout up. We have had 

 a great deal of talk here in Nebraska, and there is nothing more impor- 

 tant than this forestry business. If this society is going to recommend 

 trees to plant I want to say that I have lived in Nebraska a good while 

 and I have gotten terribly taken in by poor advice. Now, do not let 

 us start in and urge these farmers to plant worthless trees. Cottonwood 

 is a good tree to plant if you want one to come up quick, but also 

 plant some hickory, ash and walnut, and then you will get a start with 

 some hardwood. Now, this idea of having a farmer's wood lot is an 

 important thing, but this gentleman is a little wild on that; he wants 

 them to plant ten acres on each quarter and I have six acres and that 

 will ."support two farmers. You do not need ten acres; there are little 

 plats near the creek, little banks where you can get two or three acres 

 and have all the wood you want. You will find a few cottonwoods good, 

 l)ut I would put in a few ash and black walnut and oak, some elm, some 

 osage orange, they make good telegraph and telephone poles, and they 

 make good fence posts, and they last longer than any other tree. We are 

 planting osage orange for hedge, and we are cutting hedge now, that 

 hedge pays a good rental for the land, and we have the fence and we have 

 the wood lot. Some are cutting down their hedge because it takes up so 

 much room. I like this man's idea, the home in Nebraska is a sacred 

 place, and I believe now by planning a little we can talk the farmers into 

 improving their homes a little in Nebraska. I can build a fence up sky 

 high where nobody can come in and I may stay and live there in comfort 

 and luxury and by planting some trees on these prairies we can get some 

 firewood; we must have firewood. You can raise all the fruit you want, 

 raise all the vegetables you want, and you can have a perfect home 

 on your farm in Nebraska. I believe in fixing up right and starting 

 right. Nebraska is an ideal place to make an ideal home; we have 



