15 



PROTECTION. 



Plantations in which live stock runs at large seldom succeed. Stock 

 should be excluded from all plantations. 



Whenever there is danger of fire, strips from 12 to 20 feet wide 

 should be plowed around the plantation and kept free of weeds and 

 grass. 



THINNING. 



A few years after planting, the tree tops will begin to interlace, and 

 the struggle for light and growing space will begin. At this time a 

 thinning should be made to remove all dead, dying, or otherwise unde- 

 sirable trees, leaving only the better and more promising specimens to 

 constitute the forest. By repeating the thinnings from time to time 

 the best trees will be favored and a plantation of the highest value 

 secured. The thinnings will usually more than pay the cost of the 

 necessary labor. 



NOTES ON SPECIES. 

 GREEN ASH. 



Green ash is one of the hardiest trees that can be grown in the 

 region, and should be widely planted. It is equally well adapted to 

 bottom land and table-land. Though it does best on irrigated land, it 

 can be grown even on high, dry uplands. In such situations, how- 

 ever, it should be given continuous cultivation. Not infrequently the 

 only remnant of the "better days" on the table-lands is found in the 

 few specimens of green ash, which, in spite of drought, fire, and abuse 

 of live stock, are still in a thrifty condition. The wood of green ash 

 is hard and strong and is excellent for farm repairs. It also makes 

 fine fuel, and though its value as a fence post is not relatively high, it 

 is widely used for this purpose. 



HONEY LOCUST. 



Honey locust is another very hardy tree which may be recom- 

 mended. With proper cultivation it can be grown on the nonirrigable 

 table-lands. It is somewhat more valuable than green ash for fuel and 

 posts, and its growth is more rapid. 



BLACK LOCUST. 



The success of black locust in the region is problematical, especially 

 in the North Platte Valley, where it has been planted with varying 

 results from North Platte City to the Wyoming line. On a farm 2 

 miles southeast of Mitchell, Nebr. , is a row of black locust 14 years 

 old.- The trees range from 4 to 6 inches in diameter 4 feet from the 



[Cir. 109] 



