FOREST TREES. 643 



for the markets, commanding better prices for milling purposes. 

 It is not affected in any way for seed either. I know from 

 experience that it is better, and produces a more perfect crop 

 than if it were left to get perfectly ripe before cutting. 



FOREST TREES. 



Many of the Eastern forest trees thrive here, such as the 

 locust, walnut, ash, and poplar. The different ornamental 

 trees which adorn the yards of our homes, grow rapidly, and 

 do well. 



My experience has been that trees of any kind, after being 

 planted and cultivated two seasons, should never again be dis- 

 turbed with hoe or plow, but should be mulched with straw 

 and half rotten manure, which prevents the ground drying up 

 fast, while at the same time it is a good growing fertilizer 

 for them. I tried the plan just mentioned, and also pursued 

 for four years the plan of thorough cultivation. After this 

 length of time, my results are as follows, viz. : Those that 

 were thoroughly cultivated did not attain in this time more 

 than the one-half growth of the mulched ones, and were 

 inferior in quality, not having a healthy appearance, and were 

 more easily affected by insects. Severe sudden changes in 

 Winter from warm to extreme cold, destroyed great numbers 

 of them for me, especially of the cottonwood and walnut. 

 But the mulched ones were preserved, and came out in Spring 

 in a healthy, growing condition. I don't believe as many do, 

 in cultivating all the land which you are going to plant out to 

 a forest, for it requires more labor, and the expense is greater. 

 Another objection is, that where trees are filled with weeds 

 there is more danger from the ravages of prairie fires, which 

 this open country is exposed to every Fall and Spring, destroy- 

 ing for the State vast amounts of property, and retarding her 

 development to a great extent. 



LAYING OFF GROUND. 



I have ten acres laid out to be planted to trees for a forest, 

 from which I expect in a few years to procure my fuel and 

 poles for general uses necessary on a farm. 



