FOREST PLANTING IN MINNESOTA. 537 



most pressing necessity for this kind of work, viz, in the treeless region and the coun- 

 ties bordering thereon. For example, Faribault County, with an area of 460,800 acres, 

 had, at the time of the United States survey, 20,300 acres of timber, being about 6^- 

 acres to each quarter-section, if proportionately distributed ; enough to entice settlers 

 into it, but not enough to last them forever. This county, realizing her necessities in 

 this regard, has distinguished herself by planting, as reported by assessors, on Arbor 

 Day 195,278 forest trees and cuttings, and during the entire season the enormous num- 

 ber of 1,804,776, clearly entitling her to the appellation of the "Banner County," aa 

 awarded by the State JForestrj^ Association. 



Nobles County, with an area of 460,000 acres, had at the survey but 

 40 acres of timber. The assessors report in this country 121,052 trees 

 planted on Arbor Day, and 693,343 during the season. In the south- 

 western group of counties, intersected by or tributary to the Southern 

 Minnesota Eailroad, the Saint Paul and Sioux City Eailroad, and the 

 Winona and Saint Peter Railroad, in all fifteen counties, lying south of 

 the Minnesota Eiver, and having together an area of 6,216,680 acres, and 

 an average native supply of only ]^ acres to each quarter-section, there 

 were planted on Arbor Day 799,348 trees, and during the season 5,084,882 

 forest trees and cuttings, or more than half the whole amount in the 

 State. In another group of counties, equally destitute of timber, on or 

 near the Saint Paul and Pacific Eailroad and the Hastings and Dakota 

 Railroad, lying north of the JMinuesota River, comprising ten counties 

 and 4,753,400 acres, there were planted on Arbor Day 279,825 forest 

 trees and cuttings, and during the season 898,431. 



The assessors report over 400 miles of windbreak and hedges as planted 

 during the season of 1876 on farms bordering upon highways. 



Mr. John H. Stevens, of Minneapolis, in writing to the Department of 

 Agriculture upon tree-planting in Minnesota, mentions the white, green, 

 and black ash, aspen, long-toothed poplar, linden, yellow and white 

 birch, black walnut, butternut, box elder, cottonwood, red and black 

 cherry, elms of several kinds, hackberry, shagbark and bitter-nut hick- 

 ories, red mulberry, several of the maples and oaks, and willows, tama- 

 rac, and many smaller trees and shrubs, as adapted to cultivation in 

 that State. As a rule the evergreens had not done well, and the list of 

 those that might be planted with much chance of success, were the pine, 

 balsam fir, swamp spruce, red and white cedar, and juniper. 



Mr. Stevens insists upon the thorough breaking up of tbe sod before 

 planting, and advises that a hoed crop should be first cultivated so that 

 the native sod shall be thoroughly pulverized and rotten. After the 

 crop is removed the ground should be plowed deep and then harrowed. 

 He would set the cuttings deep and cultivate so as to destroy all weeds 

 and grass. He commends the white willow and Lombardy i)oplar for 

 windbreaks, and the buffalo berry {Shepardea argentea) as a hedge plant. 

 In starting the oak, he would plant the acorn where the tree is wanted, 

 as it is not easily transplanted. In some instances he had known a 

 cottonwood of fifteen years' growth make a cord of wood. The black 

 walnut and butternut are well worthy of cultivation, especially the 

 former, which grows rapidly and is quite valuable. The locust had 

 very often failed, but it was hoped that it might yet succeed. He is 

 confident that tree-planting may be successfully undertaken throughout 

 Minnesota and Dakota, and that prairie farms may be easily kept sup- 

 plied with all the wood needed for farm uses and for fuel, by proper care 

 and management. 



