TREE PLANTING ON MINNESOTA PRAIRIES. 299 



species as the hardy conifers, oaks, ashes, elms and hackberry. 

 There is no doubt but that this list of desirable species will be widely 

 extended in the future as experiments demonstrate the adaptability 

 of other species. It is rather certain, however, that the future list 

 will contain slow growing species rather than rapid. 



By proper selection of seed from the northern limits of distribu- 

 tion, it is very probable that walnut, hickory and other valuable hard- 

 woods may be added to the Hst of desirable trees for planting in 

 western Minnesota. The red and bur oaks are the most hardy 

 species of this genus. 



The planting of the more fastidious conifers, such as white pine, 

 in the Red River Valley is not advisable, yet experiments in this 

 region with the balsam fir, arbor vitae, white spruce and European 

 larch should be made. It is an indisputable fact that evergreens 

 are more desirable on prairie farm plantations than deciduous species. 

 This is owing to the protective effect, of the foliage in winter. 



Selection of Site. — The farmer tree planter should give mature 

 deliberation to the selection of the site for his grove." This matter 

 should not be settled by chance. The considerations of site of 

 primary importance are as follows : 



1. Degree of permeability of soil and subsoil, rendering tree 

 growth possible or prohibiting it. 



2. Depth to ground water. 



3. The proper planning of the fields and private roads on the 

 farm, and location of public roads adjacent to the same. 



4. Location of the buildings and farmstead on the farm. 



5. Need of protection, such as windbreaks, snowbreaks, etc. 



6. Amount and location of waste land on the farm and its avail- 

 ability for planting. 



Too much consideration to the question of adaptability of soil 

 and subsoil cannot well be given. J\Iuch of our prairie land that 

 produces excellent agricultural crops probably will not produce a 

 permanent growth of trees. Planting on such land except experi- 

 mentally is a waste of time and energ}\ If an impenetrable sub- 

 stratum, whether of clay or rock, exists as close to the surface as 

 two or three feet, it will probably be next to useless "to plant on such 

 ground. 



Depth to permanent moisture is another very important point to 

 consider. Where the ground water stands too near the surface suc- 

 cessful planting is very difficult, and where the soil is dry to great 

 ■depths tree growth is precluded. 



The location of every forest plantation on a farm will largely 

 be determined by the size, position and shape of the fields. The 

 private and public roads will also have influence. No farm can be 



