HO W TO PLANT. ill 



should be set in the final planting in the field. 

 The timber-culture act of Congress was found, 

 in practice, to be defective, because it allowed 

 trees to be planted at a distance of twelve feet 

 from each other. Practical experience teaches 

 that they should be planted much closer than 

 this, and there is now a very general concur- 

 rence of opinion that the best results are ob- 

 tained when trees, for forest purposes, are 

 planted not more than four feet from each 

 other, and in rows four feet apart. Some 

 would plant even closer than this. If planted 

 at a greater distance, the trees, when young 

 and tender, are very likely to be injured by 

 sweeping winds, especially in the prairie re- 

 gions. They are also more exposed to the with- 

 ering effect of the hot sun, and are liable to 

 have the soil parched and deprived of its moist- 

 ure by excessive evaporation, whereas, if plant- 

 ed closely, they afford mutual support, shading 

 the ground so that its moisture is retained, 

 while at the same time weeds are prevented 

 from growing. 



Moreover, this is Nature's mode of planting. 

 When cattle and other injurious animals are 



