FORESTRY AND EVERGREENS. 401 
years ago are now by actual measurement seventy feet high 
and five feetin circumference. I do not call that a slow growth for 
timber. 
In the western part of the state we must Select from those varieties 
that are best adapted for western soil. With the experience I have had 
by running a small evergreen nursery for sixteen years or more and 
shipping to different parts of the state for trial and otherwise, Ihave 
found the Scotch pine universally give the best satisfaction. Itisa 
very fast grower and can stand more drought than any other vari- 
ety I have a knowledge of. The white spruce is next in order. In 
my opinion, it is the best of our common varieties of evergreens. The 
Norway spruce is a fine tree but not adapted to all soils. The arbor 
vitae is a beautiful tree but like the Norway spruce not so well 
adapted to different locations and soil. 
The care necessary for success in planting evergreens is first: Do 
not get large trees—from twelve to eighteen inches isaslarge as you 
want them, and once or, better, twice transplanted. Get them from 
a responsible nursery where care will be taken. When first taken 
up do not expose more than necessary to the sun or wind and when 
received use the same precaution, as it will not do to have the roots 
long exposed to sun or wind. Get them early in the spring, so that 
they can get started to grow before the drought of summer comes 
on. Itis the best way to have the ground prepared and take the box 
you receive them in to the field. Take out one at a time and put in 
the ground. Itis well to have some water, and when you put the 
tree in the hole dug for it, put dirt on the roots and thenputa quart 
of water in and lift the tree up and down until you get the roots well 
mudded. Cover with dirt,leaving the tree two or three inches deeper 
than it came out of the nursery row; then mulch with rotted 
manure to stop evaporation. If very dry through the summer, it is 
well to move the mulch and loosen the ground around the tree, put- 
ting back the mulch. 
In extreme cases of drought it may be necessary to water; if so, 
take away some of the ground near the tree and water the roots well, 
but always leave dry ground and mulch on the surface; in fact, the 
key to the whole tree planting business is to stop evaporation and 
keep the ground as cool as possible. This can only be accomplished 
by thorough cultivation to form a dust blanket or by mulching. 
Mulching in my opinion is the best. In buying trees always patronize 
our home nurseries, and you will always have better results. Do 
not undertake to raise from seed, for that requires experience, when 
you can buy them by the hundred at from six to ten dollars, once 
transplanted. 
The poor farmer needs a good winter crab. It must be free from 
blight, hardy, productive, of fair size and good quality. How nice 
to have three or four barrels in the cellar to be brought up by the 
panful all winter long for stewing, baking and eating from the 
hand! Liberal premiums will bring out good apples, but a com- 
mittee should examine the trees, for many a fine apple grows ona 
half dead or a non-productive tree.—F.. H. S. Dartt. 
