22 



THE GENESEE FAKMEE. 



your colt lias all yonr requirements to learn, and 

 that without tlio aid of reason. Never punish 

 until you are sure he understands your wishes, and 

 is determined in refusing to obey; then be calm 

 and firm until he submits. 



There is no need of one half the trouble many 

 experience with colts, if they are only treated kindly 

 and firmly. 



At least this is my theory, and having tried and 

 found it true in more cases than one, I am inclin- 

 ed to like my plan pretty well. In short, when I 

 have taught a colt his paces thoroughly and he 

 learns that the harness and other accoutrements 

 will not hurt him, I have little fear for the rest 

 as long as I can drive him myself, but take him 

 when and where I please. u, 



FredonM, Chan. Co., N. Y., 1S57. 



TREES ON THE FBAIRIES. 



WnEX we consider that over more than half of 

 the area of the United States there already exists, or 

 will exist at an early date, a great scarcity of timber 

 for all piirposes, the importance of our subject will 

 be seen in its true light. At the East, the never 

 satisfied appetite of stove and engine is continually 

 crying, give, give, and every day the supply is less- 

 ening, and the demand increasing. At the West, 

 new fires are constantly being kindled, and tlie 

 stinted growth of timber is failing rapidly. 



The question of growing timber for shelter and 

 fuel, must be shortly forced upon us. Why not an- 

 ticipate its actual coming, ' "per force," a few j'ears, 

 and consider the only means by which we may 

 evade dire elfects? The growing of timber for 

 l)reseut use, as shelter, is a present pressing neces- 

 sity. It is felt in whiter, when the mercury is 

 down a score or more degrees below zero. It is 

 felt when the winter wind howls over the prairie 

 like the avenging spirit of a winged demon, the 

 herds and flocks fleeing before it to the grove, from 

 their oti'ered food, like frightened lambs before fam- 

 ished wolves. It is felt when, upon entering within 

 the influence of the grove, the storm-beaten traveler 

 notes the milder temperature. A subject of more 

 importance to half the United States, could not be 

 chosen. 



Bleak, cheerless, treeless and uninviting, the wide 

 and fertile prairie stretches away beyond the home- 

 seeker's vision. How often he repeats, "Oh, if 

 here only was a little grove of timber, to protect 

 witli its shade in summer, and shield from the 

 winds of winter, I could be content — yea, would 

 be glad to build my home." Any aid which can 

 be given to overcome such inconveniences as tliese, 

 cannot fail being valuable to the settlers and home- 

 builders of the West. We have made this want 

 of the settler and the means of overcoming it, the 

 subject of study for the last year, and will now 

 I>roceed to give the result of our inquiries and ex- 

 perience. 



The first thing to be observed in growing timber 

 on the prairies, is to prevent the annual visit of fire 

 ■m common in autumn and early spring. Soon after 

 the fires cease, different varieties of timber early 

 spring up, and make usually a rapid growth. But 

 it is from artificial means we hope for "the most in 

 the growing of tunber. And of these we consider 



propagation by cuttings the mos-t expeditious and 

 certain mode. Of these the Golden Willow and 

 Cotton Wood, natives of eveiy prairie grove, and 

 the rapid-growing Poplar — always keeping pace 

 with civilization — are cjuick growing and easily 

 propagated varieties, suitable for eitlici- shelter, or- 

 nament or fuel. They grow well trojii cuttings, ami 

 are as easily prof)agated as the currant. They will 

 make a growth of two feet in circumference in 

 from six to eight years, and the willow throws out 

 an enormous branching top. 



The Poi)lar is a tree frequently found growing 

 about old homesteads at tlie East. It iHakes a very 

 rapid grov\-th — is clotlicd witii limbs fj-om near the 

 ground to tlie to]), wliicli shoot out fi-oni the trunk 

 unlike the branches of other trees, keeping close to 

 the parent trunk, jnid frequently seen tiead and liv- 

 ing, interspersed all along uj) the tree. The trunk 

 maintains its size to coii'~idei'able heigiit, apparently 

 little diminislied l)y loss fro?u branclies. It grows 

 readily from cutting-^, and I iiave seen good shelter- 

 ing fence growing of it Avhich liad been stuck but 

 few years. 



We wish we could ui"ge ifpon every prairie farmer 

 the importance of jtlanting — planting — continually 

 planting, or sticking down slips or cuttings of these 

 trees. In addition to these, the locust is an impor- 

 tant tree, and its wood is second m value to none 

 other grown in our climate. Every Western farmer 

 should gather liberally of tlie seeds of this tree, and 

 scatter them with no sjiaring hand. They grow 

 readily, and but a few yenrs are needed to produce 

 a grove of locust trees large enongli for fence posts 

 and fuel. 



The Black Walnut is another variety worthy the 

 attention of farmers, and they should seek to grow 

 these valuable trees, not only for jdeasnre, but clear 

 profit. They grow vigorously when in favorable 

 locations, and the fruit with wliich they are annually 

 laden is a good argument, if none other existed, 

 why they should be grown. Other trees there are 

 deserving of attention, but none of them so rapid 

 in growth and so easily cultivated, as the first named 

 in this article. 



We have not yet said enough of our favorites of 

 the list above given, viz.: The Willow, the Cotton 

 Wood and the Poplar. We fear that any variety 

 of timber not easily and rapidly grown, will fail to 

 meet with that attention which the subject demands. 

 Hence, we again speak of cuttings, and urge upon 

 every farmer the growing of these by the roadside, 

 in the fieldsides — everywliei-e, where man passes, 

 or wliere he or the brute creation may want them 

 for shelter or fuel. For ornament, the two first 

 named above, when grown from cuttings, with 

 plenty of room, are second to few much more ap- 

 })lauded trees. 



Plant them, oi" rather stick them with crow-bar 

 and mallet, about your cattle yards, your lawns, 

 and your line fences. Stick them where it is too 

 dry to grow grain, and too wet to grow grass. — • 

 Stick them anywhere and everywhere, only so you 

 kef]) multiplying their number, and hastening the 

 "good time coming," when we shall have the prairie 

 dotted with the eye-gladdening sight of growing 

 trees, and these shall be unlimited evidence, increas- 

 ing with each rolling year, that we are in eai'nest 

 in the Avork of planting trees. jno. saxfield. 

 Out West, Nov. 26, 1S5I. 



