ADVISABILITY OF TREE PLANTING. 



The entire region is practically treeless. Here and there, of course, 

 trees have been planted, but forest planting has in no way kept pace 

 with agricultural development. 



It is a generally accepted fact that the best agricultural conditions 

 exist when from 10 to 25 per cent of the land is in forest. While 

 there is no probability that so large a proportion will ever be attained 

 on the plains, there is real need for a certain amount of forest growth 

 upon them. By a careful selection of species, the choice of suitable 

 sites, and proper management of plantations enough forest can be 

 grown to exercise a marked effect upon farm and ranch development 

 and to supply wood for many domestic purposes. 



Trees of any species adapted to local conditions of soil and climate 

 can be grown under irrigation. Likewise land which has water 

 within 15 or 20 feet of the surface, without intervening rock strata, 

 is suitable for tree growth. Where the level of the ground water is 

 much lower and conditions are more arid greater care is required 

 to insure success. Of this type of land the sand hills of western 

 Nebraska and Kansas are best for tree planting. On the high plains 

 to the southwest of this region the chief factor of success, in addition 

 to the care given the plantation, is the selection of the planting site. 



For planting on the upland, where conditions are relatively unfa- 

 vorable, the best trees are honey locust, Russian mulberry, Osage 

 orange, and red cedar. Next in hardiness to these are black locust, 

 white elm, green ash, and hackberry, and in the north Scotch pine, 

 Austrian pine, western yellow pine, and jack pine. All of these 

 species are also suitable for planting in valleys and on irrigated land. 

 In addition to the species mentioned, cottonwood, boxelder, and hardy 

 catalpa are adapted to moist sites. 



There are a number of other species which have proven to be more 

 or less adapted to the plains and which may be planted in selected 

 situations for sake of variety. These are: Black walnut, coffeetree. 

 silver maple, ailanthus, wild china, Mexican walnut, bur oak, white 

 poplar, Lombardy poplar, Russian olive, Chinese arborvitse, blue 

 spruce, and sycamore. 



PROTECTIVE PLANTING. 



A windbreak consists of a few rows of trees planted primarily for 

 the purpose of checking the force of the wind. The term " shelter- 

 belt " is applied to larger groups of trees which form forest condi- 

 tions and serve a protective purpose. Any of the species which are 

 best adapted to the region may be used for windbreaks. Where ever- 

 greens will succeed, however, they are more desirable, since they 



[Cir. 99] 



