SEP - 7 1914 



Division of Forestry 

 University of California 



FOREST PLANTING IN WESTERN KANSAS. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The investigations upon which this report is based were made for 

 the purpose of determining the kinds of forest trees best adapted to 

 western Kansas and the methods of treatment which have proved 

 most successful. Since there is little likelihood that more than small 

 local areas of the region can ever be irrigated, only the species which 

 can be grown without irrigation are described. With an artificial 

 supply of water better results can be obtained with these species, and 

 others that could not be grown without it can be introduced. 



Whatever may be the reasons for the absence of natural forests on 

 the Great Plains, a close study of established plantations proves that, 

 with an intelligent selection of species and proper care, planted trees 

 can. to some extent, be made to supply the deficiency. 



It is generally accepted that for the most successful agricultural 

 conditions from 10 to 25 per cent of the land should be forested. 

 There is little likelihood that this proportion w T ill ever be attained in 

 western Kansas. Yet the planting that will come as the State in- 

 creases in age and wealth will be sufficient to. exercise a marked effect 

 on the landscape, and to supply wood 'for many domestic purposes. 

 In favored localities commercial returns may be expected; elsewhere 

 the recompense to the planter will take the form of increased comfort 

 and convenience. The American has in many regions ruthlessly 

 destroyed his natural forests, but Avith characteristic energy he is 

 creating woodland where none existed before. 



On the Plains the most extensive early plantings were made to 

 secure title under the timber-culture law. They generally resulted in 

 failure because of poorly chosen species and neglect. The man who 

 made a timber-culture filing did so to get 160 acres of land, not be- 

 cause he cared for trees, or had sufficient experience to grow them. 

 If he could evade the law and " prove up " without any trees what- 

 ever, he was altogether too likely to consider himself that much 

 ahead. There were some well-planted and conscientiously cared-for 

 claims, which now speak for themselves. The majority, however, 

 amounted to little or nothing. After various modifications, the law 

 was repealed in 1891. 



LCir. 161.] (5) 



