* Planting in Kansas. 351 



The Locust-Tree in Central Kansas. 



1416. A correspondent in Central Kansas, 1 reports to the State 

 Horticultural Society unexpected success in planting the black lo- 

 cust. It had escaped the borers, and had lived through severe 

 drouth. Trees planted in 1873 -were in eight years large enough 

 for two fence-posts, and produced an abundance of material for vine- 

 stakes and other uses. He estimates that 2,000 trees can be grown 

 on an acre, and that by extreme care and cultivation they would in 

 seven years produce 4,000 posts worth at 20 cents each the sum of 

 0800. Allowing a broad margin for casualties, there would still be 

 a strong motive for planting this tree, should it hereafter be found 

 that it is not there liable to the insect injuries that have proved so 

 disastrous in Illinois, or if more effectual means for preventing 

 these injuries should be hereafter discovered. 



Gathering and Preservation of Seeds. 



1417. Nuts with a hard shell like the black-walnut must be 

 gathered as soon as ripe, and may generally be planted the same 

 fall. It is commonly preferred, however, to spread them upon the 

 ground, with a light covering of litter and soil, or in a box mixed 

 with earth and moistened from time to time. They should be ex- 

 posed to frost, and in the spring dwdd be planted for permanence, as 

 tfiey will not bear transplanting. 



1418. We advise that generally every alternate tree be a walnut, 

 and the remainder a cottouwood, white willow, or box-elder, where 

 it is intended that a fine, high, and regularly formed grove of the 

 walnut is finally desired. The nurses may be taken out as the trees 

 begin to crowd one another. A little mixture of other kinds, such 

 as the ash, oak, catalpa, elm, and perhaps of red cedar might be 

 desirable, and of more profit than all of one kind. 



, 1419. Seeds of the Osage orange, ash, box-elder, sycamore, ca- 

 talpa, and honey- locust may be put away in a cool, dry place, and 

 kept till spring. They generally do best when planted early. In 

 Kansas they do best as forest trees when planted where th< y 

 are to grow. The seeds of the honey locust must be scalded before 

 planting. 



1 J. B. Schlichter, of Sterling, Rice Co. 



