THE 1RRI GAT ION A GE. 



couraged the enlistment of capital, and it 

 is now proposed to purchase 15,000 acres 

 of suitable land and sow it with rice, leav- 

 ing the care and culture of the crop in the 

 hands of experts. The chances of profita- 

 ble investment are regarded as so encour- 

 aging that the prospectus of a company 

 has been issued, with the object of carry- 

 ing on the business. 



The Trinity Rice. Land & Irrigation 

 Co., of Chambers County, Tex., expects 

 considerable earnings on the capital in- 

 vested. A recent statement of the com- 

 pany shows a net earning of $91,500 on an 

 investment of $260,000 in the purchase 

 and planting of 10,000 acres of land. Now 

 additional capital is sought to still further 

 develop the enterprise, and it is being sub- 

 scribed to the company's stock in a satis- 

 factory way. 



The company was organized last April. 

 Among its officers are men of note in the 

 business world, who are already standing 

 at the head of successful business enter- 

 prises. A majority of the stock was 

 taken by the organizers. The object of 

 the prospectus just issued is to sell about 

 $120,000 worth of the company's unsold 

 stock. It is expected that one year's 

 operation will put the stock above par. 



The adaptability of the lands to be pur- 

 chased, abundance of water, drainage and 

 all necessary features to insure success, 

 have been ascertained beyond a doubt. A 

 committee was sent from St. Louis to 

 Chambers County, Tex., and a full inves- 

 tigation was made. Farmers were inter- 

 viewed, the land owners consulted, the 

 soil examined and every necessary precau- 

 tion taken. The methods adopted in the 

 successful rice lands of Louisiana are to 

 be used, and those interested have every 

 reason to look forward to the success of 

 the enterprise. 



TREES FOR DRAINAGE. 



It is a popular belief that trees about 



a house tend to make it damp. It is true 



that after heavy rains a dwelling with 



trees Surrounding it takes more time to 



dry out than one not so surrounded. On 

 the contrary it is just as true that where 

 trees are the soil is very much drier than 

 it would be otherwise. Some years ago 

 the daily papers had much to say of the 

 drainage of a malarious district in Rome 

 by the planting largely of the fast-grow- 

 ing blue gum tree of Australia. Eucalyp- 

 tus globulus. There is no doubt that this 

 rapid-growing tree would quickly change 

 the character of a half swamp, as it grows 

 fast and has thick foliage. When there 

 is a lot of trees full of foliage there is 

 great call for moisture from the ground. 

 The roots are drawing it continually, and 

 this in the long run accomplishes as much 

 as a system of drainage would do. I have 

 myself witnessed the great change 

 brought about by the cutting down and 

 clearing of trees from a low piece of 

 laud. What was a fairly dry place while 

 the trees stood became almost a swamp. 

 It is not as easy to start evergreens in 

 such a spot as it is deciduous trees ; other- 

 wise they would be better for the purpose 

 as there is more evaporation from them in 

 the wii^r season. But it must not be 

 supposed that there is entire rest on the 

 part of a deciduous tree in winter. The 

 roots are active and especially toward 

 spring an enormous lot of water is taken 

 from the earth by the roots of a large 

 tree. This is why trees near dwellings 

 which are in damp situations are so valu- 

 able. The cellar of a house which is sur- 

 rounded by large trees will be very much 

 drier than before the trees were there. 

 This I have seen many examples of. 

 There is no need to plant trees so close 

 that the branches will reach to the house 

 and it is not at all desirable that the limbs 

 overhang it. Deciduous trees are better 

 than evergreen for planting near a house. 

 An evergreen is not a top spreader and 

 affords but little shade. The deciduous 

 one gives the shade in the summer when 

 it is needed, and its roots are drying the 

 soil to a great extent in winter as well as 

 largely in summer. One of the best trees 

 for the purpose is the common white 

 maple. It grows quickly, makes a good 

 deal of foliage, and is much more of a 

 surface rooter than many trees, and this is 

 what makes it so good for drainage. Those 

 who may have a piece of land that would 

 be improved by being drier and would 

 not object to trees doing the work for 

 them should plant some. The result 

 would please them very much. Practical 

 tarmer. 



