STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 14T 



papers, and delivered over one hundred public addresses on the sub- 

 ject of tree planting. There is every reason to believe that these 

 efforts have dou^^ something towards stimulating intelligent planting 

 and cultivation of trees. 



From one county we have reports of over 20,000 evergreens planted 

 last spring; and although the drouth was sevej-e and long continued, 

 the young trees were so carefully handled, so well planted and cared 

 for that over seventy-five per cent of them are alive and looking 

 well.0 [n another county, one prominent farmer became so interested 

 in the tree talks at a farmers institute that he concluded to plant an 

 experimental belt of evergreens, and purchased from a reliable dealer 

 1,000 each of white pine, Scotch pine, Norway spruce, white spruce 

 and abor vitse. He reports, November 1st, 80 per cent of arbor vitse 

 and spruce, 60 per cent of white pine and 40 per cent of Scotch pine 

 alive. I questioned carefully as to some cause for the excessive fail- 

 ure of Scotch pine, but failed to get any information upon which to 

 base a conclusion However, as a whole, he is well pleased with the ven- 

 ture. The trees were well mulched and are in good condition to stand 

 the winter. He will add another 5,000 trees to his plantation this 

 year, and replace all that died from last year's planting. The follow- 

 ing directions were given him for planting, and he says he followed 

 them in every detail : 



Carefully prepare the ground by deep plowing and thorough harrow- 

 ing; unpack the trees in a cool, shady place; wet the roots; while 

 planting, carry them in a pail half filled with muddy water; open a 

 furrow eight inches deep — only one furrow at a time, so the soil will 

 be cool and moist; set the young trees about an inch deeper than they 

 grew inr the nursery; straighten the roots; work the earth closely 

 around them; pack it firmly; never let the sun or wind reach the 

 roots; keep conl and moist until planted; cultivate after, but shallow; 

 let no weeds or grass grow; do not let the surface get hard; if for any 

 reason frequent cultivation cannot be given, mulch with coarse manure, 

 straw or hay. 



I traveled over a large part of the State during May and June, and 

 visited many newly-planted tree plantations. The rage for Russian 

 mulberry and hardy catalpa seems to have subsided. Willow, cotton- 

 wood, ash and box elder are the principal varieties planted. I have 

 no hesitancy in saying that for the purpose of fuel or shelter from 

 winds, the white willow gives the quickest and most satisfactory re- 

 sults. The demand for young trees for forest planting has exceeded 

 the supply, and I believe all our nurserymen and tree growers have 



