8 



SECOND DAYS SESSION. 



ish motives of profit aud pleasure. Of these 

 little need be said here. Much has he lost 

 who never felt the pleasure of watching the 

 growth or sat under the shade of a tree he 

 has planted. Many are the proofs of the 

 greac economic and hygienic value of trees, 

 as shown and published in various ways. 



PEOFIT IN TREE PLANTING. 



The direct profits of tree planting may be 

 easily and conclusively shown to be 10 to 20 

 per cent, per annum. It is as profitable as 

 any crop of farm or garden, but has the one 

 objection insurmountable to most people of 

 ty ng up capital without returns for many 

 years. These three great reasons for tree 

 planting, duty, pleasure and profit, cannot be 

 gainsaid. But some will say : I want all my 

 irrigable land for agriculture ; I cannot afford 

 any for the slow returns of trees." Look 

 about carefully. Are there no wet places or 

 water holes which are too wet to crop, but 

 where trees will grow ? Are there no corners 

 where a tree can be planted and irrigated? 

 Is every foot of your land utilized ? It is an 

 old commandment : "Seek and ye shall find." 



Plant masses around your dwellings and 

 out buildings. Plant rows along each side of 

 your irrigating ditches; plant trees along 

 your fences, and on the edges of your fields, 

 wherever water can be carried for them. In 

 this way, no extra irrigation is needed, and 

 the cost of their growth is nothing, while the 

 good they do is incalculable. 



One of the greatest uses for trees is for 

 wind breaks, especially on the prairies, 

 where the winds are sudden and devastating, 

 doing more harm to all vegetation, with 

 their dry, scorching effect, than is generally 

 credited. It is a settled fact that the only 

 corn raised in Central Kansas, in the year 

 1874, was grown where it had the protection 

 of forest shelter. 



CLIMATIC EFFECTS. 



In this peculiary dry climate and at this 

 great altitude all vegetation is subject to 

 many vicissitudes. The chief obstacle to the 

 growth of trees is not the lack of water. If 

 it were we could grow all hardy trees with 

 irrigation. It is rather the altitude. ' The 

 rare atmosphere, with .scarcely any humidity, 

 and presenting little obstruction to the 

 scorching rays of the sun, produces so great 

 an evaporation from all parts of the tree, 

 that often the machinery cannot 'keep up 

 the circulation necessary to a healthy con- 

 dition. On the plains in winter the cold dry 

 winds, with a hot scorching sun often 

 draw all the life from the tree. The thawing 

 of a tree during some of our warm winter 

 days is more injurious than the greatest 

 amount of freezing. In the parks and 

 canons among the mountains the same obsta- 



cles to vegetable growth are found, but to a 

 less degree. The trees are there more shel- 

 tered from sun and wind, and the atmosphere 

 is nioister. 



To overcome these evil effects a tree must 

 possess, besides hardiness, strong, rapid and 

 robust growth. It must have machinery ac- 

 customed to sudden calls upon it for rapid 

 action and will run smoothly without fric- 

 tion. ID must have the power of pushing 

 out its roots with rapidity and vigor, pene- 

 trating for its food, and quickly assimilating 

 the food and moisture in the ground. 



Trees may be divided into two classes for 

 use and for ornament. In making these di- 

 visions I do not wish to be understood as rep- 

 resenting that any tree is not ornamental; 

 but some trees are of economic value, while 

 others have no reason for being planted be- 

 sides that of their beauty. In choosing a tree 

 for either purpose we would have different 

 objects in view. I will confine myself to trees 

 for use. 



The selection of trees strictly for use is 

 governed by three objects profit from the 

 wood, value of the fruit, and their use for 

 protection and windbreaks. Tree planting 

 in this State h^s been as yet little 

 practised, and the comparative value 

 of trees for forest culture has not 

 been well established. For this we sorely 

 need forestal experimental stations through- 

 out the State, and I trust in some way they 

 may soon be established. On account of this 

 lack of knowledge the following list of trees 

 may be much changed by further experience. 

 In preparing it I have been governed chiefly 

 by my own observation and that of others in 

 this State. I have chosen twelve trees, which 

 I consider best suited for successful and prof- 

 itable growth in Colorado, and will name 

 and desciibe them in the order of their 

 merit. 



BEST TWELVE TREES FOR USE. 



Catalpa speciosa (Western Cacalpa) Height 

 60 to 80 feet, with trunk 2 to 4 feet in diam- 

 eter. Growth very rapid, especially when 

 young. Wood light but close-grained, of a 

 beautiful color, and susceptible of a fine pol- 

 ish; very durable, and valuable for fence 

 posts, railroad ties and similar purposes. In 

 the Government stoskade at San Antonio it 

 is perfectly sound, after being in the ground, 

 it is asserted. 200 years. It is easily grown 

 from cuttings, should be planted close, and is 

 entirely exempt from insects. Its great dura- 

 bility, its tenacity of life, and the ease with 

 which it is propagated and transplanted, 

 make it the most profitable tree for 

 forest growth on the plains south of 

 latitude 43 degrees. It was much 

 used by the Indians for canoes because of its 



