350 Planting in Kansas. 



cuttings. The lowlands in Kansas and Nebraska are rather more 

 favorable for the growth of timber than the uplands, although the 

 cottonwoo-d, box-elder, soft maple, walnut, catalpa, osage orange, 

 Lombardy poplar, and other trees are cultivated upon the latter 

 with success, when well cared for. 



1411. The ailauthus has been found well adapted for resisting the 

 drouth in Kansas as far west as the 100th meridian, and it is read- 

 ily reproduced from sprouts and cuttings from the roots. 



Distance between Trees. 



1312. It is almost the universal experience of correspondents, that 

 trees do best when planted close, and generally in rows 4 feet apart 

 and three or four feet between. If at equal distances each way and 

 set upon laud marked both ways, they can be cultivated by cross- 

 plowing very conveniently. In planting it is well to put in several 

 seeds, and when cultivating the plants afterwards, pull up all but 

 one, leaving the most thrifty. The plants thus taken out may be 

 lifted with the soil still upon the roots, and set into vacant places. 



1413. The frequent stirring of the soil with a cultivator, by pre- 

 venting the surface from becoming packed or crusted over, is found 

 most beneficial in a dry time, and should not be omitted, whether 

 there are weeds to kill or not. 



Effect of Shelter-Belts. 



1414. With scarcely an exception, the opinion was expressed by 

 correspondents of the Kansas Society, that trees planted in belts 

 in that state had afforded protection to fields of grain, or orchards, 

 gardens, and stock-yards. As to the width at which they should be 

 planted, opinions varied from four or five to twenty or thirty rods. 

 As a screen around buildings, the red cedar was much recommended, 

 and for success the plants should be started from seeds in seed-beds, 

 and be set when small. It was not fully settled by experience as 

 to whether a shelter-belt should run east and west, or north and 

 south, in order to afford the most protection. This would probably 

 depend somewhat upon the general slope of the surface. 



1415. Since trees -have been planted in groves in the prairie 

 region, it is noticed that insectivorous birds have become more com- 



O ' 



mon. They should be protected by a law supported by strong pub- 

 lic sentiment. 



