Propagation. Deciduous trees can be successfully propagated at home. 

 Black locust seed can be gathered in quantity from mature trees in the fall. 

 The seed is quite hard and should be stratified during the winter or soaked 

 in lukewarm water immediately before planting. When the seed is put in water, 

 a portion of it will swell in a short time, and should be separated from the 

 rest to prevent its being injured before the remainder begins to germinate. 

 It should be planted the same as other seed of the same size. A growth of 

 12 to 24 inches can be expected the first year, and the trees will be ready for 

 transplanting the following spring. 



Poplars are readily propagated by cuttings. Pieces of young wood from 

 8 to 12 inches long should be taken in early spring and planted to their full 

 length in damp soil. With proper care, they will grow two to four feet, and 

 frequently much more, the first season. If the soil is quite moist, cuttings 

 can be successfully planted in their permanent locations. Russian oleaster, 

 Elaeagnus angustifolia, is easily propagated. Trees are usually grown from 

 seed, although layering and cuttings are sometimes resorted to. Golden 

 willow, Salix sp., is propagated by cuttings. The propagation of pines and 

 other conifers is much more difficult than of locust and poplars, and if attempted 

 under ordinary farm conditions will be attended by heavy loss and frequent 

 failure. 



Planting. To plant small forest trees a deep furrow should first be made 

 with a lister or turning plow. By digging sufficiently in the bottom of this 

 furrow to accommodate the larger roots, the trees can be placed and dirt 

 brought in from the sides of the furrow and compacted to hold them in place. 

 The furrows can then be filled in with a cultivator or plow. Irrigation should 

 be applied immediately, in order to settle and moisten the soil about the 

 roots, and at frequent intervals thereafter in order to stimulate rapid growth. 

 Careful cultivation and the application of manures will facilitate the develop- 

 ment of the trees. No less care should be exercised in planting windbreak 

 trees than in setting fruit trees, as thorough work is necessary for success. 

 On account of their small size, forest trees can be handled quite rapidly. 

 Conifers require care as they are difficult to start. They should be shaded 

 during the first one or two summers. This can be accomplished by placing 

 a shingle or wide plank to the southwest of each tree, or by covering with lattice. 



Suckering. Locust and poplars alike sprout from the ground when root 

 injuries occur. By placing roads and driveways near windbreaks the narrow 

 strip of land adjacent to them, which is rendered comparatively unproductive 

 by shading and the draft made upon its store of plant food, can be used to 

 advantage. In this way less injury is inflicted upon the roots than if the soil 

 is disturbeo! by cultivation, and less of sprouting will resuU. Distributing 

 flumes and headlands should be located near the windbreaks whenever possible 

 to diminish injury to the tree roots. Where sprouts occur, the roots, if not 

 severed, should be cut off and the free ends taken out. The injured end of 

 the remaining portion should be cut off smooth in order to facilitate healing. 



Training. Locust trees require occasional pruning while young, to prevent 

 the formation of crotches, which frequently cause splitting down of old trees. 



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