TREE PLANTING ON MINNESOTA PRAIRIES. 



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TREE PLANTING ON MINNESOTA PRAIRIES. 



GEO. L. CLOTHIER, WASHINGTON, D. C. 



The desirability of forest plantations on the prairie farms of 

 Minnesota is generally conceded. Such differences of opinion as 

 exist concerning the establishment of forest plantations usually only 

 embrace questions as to the most desirable species, the proper loca- 

 tion of the plantations, the best methods of establishing the same 

 and the profits likely to accrue from planting. The following re- 

 marks will be confined chiefly to the discussion of these disputed 

 questions. 



Geo. L. Clothier, Washington, D. C. 



Selection of Species. — Among nurserymen and general tree 

 planters dogmatic assertions in the discussion of the merits of differ- 

 ent species are likely to be made. Judgment is too often based on 

 results gotten from temporary trials. A new species or variety 

 comes before the public, and everybody plants it without regard to 

 its limitations. The fact that it sells well is about the only quality 

 considered by the average nurseryman. The question as "to what 

 the future tree will develop into seems seldom to concern many of 

 our dealers. An instance illustrating this poini is as follows : Three 

 or four years ago some enterprising dealer took it into his head to 

 advertise the diamond willow as a good fence-post tree. Everybody 



