GROWING SHADE TREES. 175 



PRACTICALTHOUGHTS ON GROWING SHADE TREES. 



WYMAN ELLIOT, MIXXEAPOLIS. 



It is said that, "As the twig- is bent, the tree's inclined." Never 

 was there in horticultural art or forest culture a truer maxim than 

 this expressed. Experience, that great teacher and delineator of 

 demonstrated truths, speaks with smartinof impressions, as my 

 mind goes back to my boyhood daj^s, when any deflection or incli- 

 nation from the straight and perpendicular rules laid down by a 

 loving' and exacting- father g-ave lue proof impressions of this adage 

 of the " bending- twig" never to be forg-otten. Those were the days 

 when the transg-ression of his law of upright growth meant trouble 

 and he being- a g-ood disciplinarian and believing- that all young 

 sprouts should be inclined in the right direction never lost an op- 

 portunit}^ where he could be instrumental ing-iving- lessons in prun- 

 ing- by lopping- off some of the extraneous growths that were not 

 needful to make me an erect, upright and useful member of society. 

 Trees, like children, if you would have them develop their g-ood 

 qualities and rectify their defective growths, need a g-uidiug- hand 

 in their j^outhful years to g-ive them proper direction in form, 

 symmetry and graceful outline; and they who would g-row trees 

 preserving all the best qualifications for shade, ornamentation and 

 usefulness, must g-ive constant care and attention during- their first 

 years in the forest, field or nursery. 



I wish to state that this paper is not written with the idea of g-iv- 

 ing instruction to those experienced in tree growth, but more par- 

 ticularly to aid the farmers and amateurs in their first efforts in the 

 g^rowth and cultivation of trees from seed. Perhaps, there may be 

 others who have better ways and methods of doing- this work, which 

 I shall only partially outline; if so, I hope the}' will kindlj' criticise 

 in the discussion that may follow the reading of this paper. What 

 thoug-hts are here expressed come from experience g-ained in the 

 propagation of several generations of shade trees while in the 

 nursery business, in this climate, and more lately as an amateur. 



In the cultivation of shade trees by modern methods, we do not 

 follow nature's slow process of uncertain propag-ation, where it is 

 the survival of the strongest in vital force, but our aim should al- 

 ways be by aiding- processes to assist each individual tree to develop 

 as rapidly in size and height as possible. 



There is little variation in the propagation of all varieties of trees 

 from seed, with perhaps a few exceptions in methods of planting 

 and after cultivation. The main point is to have the natural condi- 

 tions for germination and aftergrowth as complete as ma}' be, and to 

 insure the largest success, whether with trees maturing their seeds 

 in the spring or fall, they should be sown very soon after ripenino-- 

 that is nature's method of planting. With proper care, most seeds 

 ripening in the fall can be held until the following spring, but, as a 

 rule, those maturing in the spring ought to be planted as soon as 

 ripe. 



The foundation for the successful production of all varieties of 

 trees consists chiefly in having a congenial soil, adapted to their 



