FOEEST CULTURE IN JOWA. 



555 



corn with a row of cuttings, putting the latter six inches apart at an 

 angle of 45°, using a clean, narrow spade, and press the earth firmly 

 down with the foot. Cuttings should be put down nearly the whole 

 length. When they start allow only one sprout to grow. Cultivate 

 carefully. The alternate row of corn will nearly pay for the culture, 

 and the following winter the stalks will help to hold the snow among 

 the trees. It can be seen the next spring how the plants stand in the 

 rows. If the cuttings are prepared, kept, and set rightly, nearly all will 

 grow, and the plants taken out can be kept and set in other ground. 

 Allow the plants to stand about three feet apart. If many have failed 

 transplant others to their places. As a rule it is better not to trans- 

 plant. The plantation should be carefully cultivated the next three 

 summers, after which the trees will require no care. 



In a paper read by Prof H. H. McAfee before the American Forestry 

 Association at Philadelphia in September, 1876, he mentioned the fol- 

 lowing species of deciduous trees (all but the Tyrolese larch being native), 

 which he regarded as of proven value in Iowa, and for cheapness, cer- 

 tainty of growth and value, to be taken in the following order: Black 

 walnut, green ash, box-elder, black cherry, honey-locust, hickory-elm, 

 Tyrolese larch, two-colored oak {Quercus bicolor) red elm, red oak, black 

 birch. In the order of abundance planted they were, silver-leaf maple, 

 white willow, cottonwood, box-elder, green ash, and Tyrolese larch. Of 

 evergreens, none had done better than white pine planted among de- 

 ciduous kiuds. The following measurements were shown by seasoned 

 specimens exhibited at the Centennial from Iowa : 



Growth of loiva ivoods. 



'Iowa Agricnltural College. 

 'Mrs. Simpson. 

 *Mr. Cunningham. 



■"C. E. Whiting. 'G. Wood. 



5G. B. Bracliett ^Henry Avery. 



6fl. C. Raymond. ^David Leonard. 



Ho had found growing native within the State, 166 species of trees, 

 shrubs, and woody vines, 97 of which grew to 4 inches in diameter and 

 over, and 58 that grew to a foot or more. The largest seen was a yel- 

 low cottonwood 6J feet across at the stump, and furnishing a log 40 feet 

 long, scaling over 8,000 feet of lumber. He recommended planting 

 belts on the south, west, and north sides. It was particularly neces- 

 sary to shelter trees against the drying southwest winds, which were 

 quite as injurious as those from the northwest, being warmer and more 

 exhausting. 



