68 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



Tree planting on the prairies is justly considered a very 

 important work, and is being recognised as such by an 

 increasing number of farmers and others, who are taking full 

 advantage of the helping hand the Government is extending 

 to them in the way of supplying them with trees free of cost. 



Trees grown on the prairies have to be given special 

 attention as regards cultivation and tending. To be successful 

 it is necessary to prepare the ground the year previous to 

 planting. May and June are considered the best months to 

 start breaking up the sod. The virgin prairie is covered by 

 a hard tough compact sod, impermeable to plant roots (and 

 also to moisture to a certain extent). It is first ploughed about 

 2 inches deep and allowed to lie from six to eight weeks so 

 that the sod may rot. It is then ploughed back about 4 

 inches deep and well disced and harrowed as often as practicable 

 during the season. Finally in the fall it is ploughed 8 to 9 

 inches deep and then disced and harrowed, which leaves it 

 ready for planting operations in spring. This method of 

 breaking is termed " backsetting." The best preparation 

 however is summer-fallow or land from which a root-crop has 

 been taken. These methods bring the soil into a much finer 

 state of division for the plant-roots. 



Fall or spring-ploughed land is not a good preparation. 

 Trees are not supplied for such land, as to attempt to stock 

 it is simply throwing away time, labour, and plants. The soil 

 dries out to the depth of the tillage, and therefore the plants 

 dry up and die from lack of moisture. The trees distributed 

 have all been selected for their hardiness and to a certain 

 extent their rapid growth, and include the following varieties : — 

 Manitoba Maple {Acer negundo). 

 Green Ash {Fraxhms viridis). 

 American Elm ( Ulmus Americana). 

 Cottonwood {Populus deltoides). 



Russian Poplar, several kinds, such as — Populus 

 petrovski, Populus certinensis, and Populus 

 wobstiriga. 

 Willows, several kinds, such as — 

 White willow {Salix alba). 

 Russian laurel leaf willow {Salix laurifolia). 

 Russian golden willow {Salix aurea). 

 Acute leaf willow {Salix Acuii/olia). 



