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more extensive plantations of trees, which are intended for utility rather than mere 

 ornamentation and comfort. 



Some really important work worthy of note has been begun and has reached a degree 

 of success. It was inspired by that noble and intelligent forest advocate and student, 

 Prof. C. S, Sargent, Director of the Arnold Arboretum, near Boston. This refers to 

 planting extensively by contract undertaken by Messrs. E-obt. Douglas & Son, of Wau- 

 kegan, Illinois, with the Missouri River, Fort Scott and Gulf Railroad, and also with a 

 private gentleman of wealth, who is largely interested in the same road, but who has 

 undertaken his planting as a profitable investment. These contracts are of such magni- 

 tude as to be of great importance, since they consist of one entire section for the rail- 

 road and nearly as much on private account. The data here given have been received 

 from private correspondence with the gentlemen engaged in the work, and in part from a 

 Boston newspaper, the Herald, which was in direct communication with the other con- 

 tracting parties and therefore they are quite reliable. 



The forest plantation referred to is owned by the M. R. k Ft. Scott & Gulf Railway, 

 and is located at Ferlington, Kansas, in 37.30 North Latitude. The 560 acres planted 

 on private account is four miles further south, both are on high dry prairie. The trees 

 are planted 4x4 feet apart, except the White Ash which are set 4x2 feet. This locality 

 is rather too far west and south for most of our eastern trees, but seems especially adapted 

 to the Catalpa and Ailanthus. 



Of the Catalpa, all Speciosa, 100,000 planted in the autumn of 1878 and the follow- 

 ing spring, with three summers' growth, had reached eight and ten feet, with a diameter 

 of trunk two to two and a-half inches. The 217,600 catalpas planted in the next season, 

 with two summers' growth, had attained the height of four, five and even six feet. 

 Despite the severe drouth of 1881, those planted in 1881, 155,000 catalpas, in one sum- 

 mer, made a growth of eighteen to thirty inches, with the terrible drouth that ruined 

 the grain crop. 



In the fall of last year 288,000 were planted, from these the tops were cut ofi" above 

 the collar as they were put into the ground. 



The Ailanthus after growing two years had reached six and eight feet with diameter 

 of two inches. 



On the other tract the following amounts and acres were set out : Catalpas, 75 acres; 

 Ailanthvis, 40 acres. 



White Ash, 60 acres, set two by four feet, which required 326,400 plants, making a 

 total of 530,400 trees planted. This plantation was continued during the current season. 



The catalpa plantation of 4x4 feet has been easily cultivated and has required no 

 pruning. The trees that have three years' growth, required little care the third summer, 

 and pruning can be entirely dispensed with. The tops shade the ground and prevent the 

 growth of weeds ; they are very uniform in size, so that they will stand 2,500 to the 

 acre of contract size four to six feet. 



In his letter, Mr. Douglas adds this item which will be of interest to the private 

 planter :j "From our past experience with this tree we think, in the case of farmers 

 planting (the cost of trees being an object) they might be planted 6x8 feet with a hill of 

 corn between the trees and a row of corn between the rows, this would require 680 trees, 

 and would allow 2,040 hills of corn per acre. The tall growing corn would have the 

 effect of close planting upon the trees. The corn might be grown three years after which 

 the trees would meet and shade the ground." 



The contract is thus described in the Boston Herald : " A Boston capitalist has con- 

 tracted for the planting of 560 acres of prairie land in eastern Kansas. This contract 

 is made with the Messrs. Robert Douglas & Sons, of Waukegan, Illinois, the largest and 

 most successful raisers of forest-tree seedlings in the United States, and is peculiar and 

 novel in its provisions. They agree, at a certain price per acre, — which would ditfer, of 

 course, with different conditions and location,— to break and plough the land, prepare it 

 for planting, plant not less than 2,720 trees to the acre, and cultivate these until they 

 shade the ground and so require no further cultivation to keep down the weeds and 

 strong natural grasses. At the end of this time, probably in three or four years, the 

 trees will be delivered over to the owner, one cent being deducted from the final payment 



