Forest Planting on the Plains. 141 



satisfactory plant material, especially on the extensive sand hills 

 of Nebraska, and that the proper method was to plant here with- 

 out cultivation of the soil, but in dense position, to make the 

 crop self-supporting as soon as possible. On these premises 

 four experimental plats were started to prove the correctness of 

 this proposition. The reasons, objects and detailed instructions 

 as to methods pursued are given in full in the report of the Chief 

 of the Forestry Division for 1891, and a report of the finst year's 

 success in report for 1892. 



In moving northward from the Platte River in Western and 

 Central Nebraska a series of low ridges or benches are encount- 

 ered to which the general term "sandhills" has been applied. 

 These ridges begin, in many instances, within a few miles of the 

 Platte River before mentioned and gradually extend in an irregu- 

 lar series of broken hills or sand dunes northward into South 

 Dakota. The extent of country covered by these sand hills 

 amounts to about one-third of the state, or in the neighborhood 

 of 15,000,000 acres. Geologists tell us that this part of the coun- 

 try was once the site of a large inland lake or sea, whose sand- 

 stone deposit gradually disintegrated under the influence of 

 climate, and whose waters were gradually carried off by drainage 

 and evaporation. This whole area, once the drainage basin of a 

 vast territory, is underlaid with currents of water flowing towards 

 the streams. These underground currents are in many places 

 relatively close to the surface and keep the soil moist up to within 

 a few inches of the surface, even during the most protracted 

 drought. The soil is almost entirely composed of loo.se sand 

 with a small admixture of vegetable matter in the draws or hol- 

 lows. The prevailing winds are mostly from the northwest and 

 they exercise a decided influence upon the temperature of the 

 country. The land is covered with a scanty growth of bunch 

 grass which affords a limited pasturage for stock. In traveling 

 over this region Dr. Fernow was impressed with the possibilities 

 of converting this semi-barren section into forests. 



That such conception was not based upon bare speculation is 

 evidenced by the fact that numerous remains of former forests 

 have been found embedded in the sand at various depths and in 

 various places. The experiment in question was carried out on 

 the farm of Mr. Edgar G. Bruner, Swan, Holt County, Nebraska. 

 Mr. Bruner agreed to follow out the instructions as laid down by 



