"562 FOREST CULTURE IN IOWA. 



Corky Elm ( JJlmus racemosa). — This tree in habit of growth is much like the white 

 elm [ Ulmus Americana'] but its wood is far more valuable. This elm is so often con- 

 founded with the white elm, and is so usually mixed with it in its native haunts, that 

 the masses mijrht fail to get the unmixed seed. The corky elm will be likely to grow 

 as rapidly as the red elm, but its wood having less value for manifold uses than the 

 latter, its extended culture cannot as yet be advised. For ornament and for shelter, 

 however, we may say the white elm in all its northern varieties is not surpassed. 

 Michaux was right wben he said that the white elm was " the most magnificent veget- 

 able of the temperate zone." Isolated trees for shade or landscape eflect, of any of the 

 white elm varieties, are not excelled. The American elmsj as grown from seed, all run 

 into variations puzzling to the hotauist. 



Silver-Leaf Maple {Acer dasycarjjum). — This variety, and also the red maple [Acer 

 ruhruml, are well known plantation trees in every neighborhood of the West. It is 

 economy of time, and a great increase of growth is attained by planting where 

 wanted as recommended for the ash. But seedlings may be transplanted readily if 

 plants are readily obtainable. 



While it is unfortunate for the timber-growing interests of the State that the soft ma- 

 ples of late have been so exclusively planted, we are not willing to advise the total neg- 

 letc of these trees. Failure often ensues by neglect to gather seeds at just the proper 

 time. When the wild crab-apples are in full blossom the seed is usually just right. 

 Before planting it is best to soak the seeds in water until just ready to sprout. Then 

 plaut in moist earth. 



Black Maple (Acer nigrum). — This is usually called sugar maple, but its growth ia 

 very much more rapid under culture than the Acer saccharinum. Forfuel and for sugar- 

 making it is specially worthy of culture. For five or six years after planting its 

 growth is rather slow. After this it compares favorably with our other valuable trees 

 in this list. Seeds ripen in the fall. Pack in sand not too moist, or turn down on walk, 

 and treat as ash seeds, which is generally best. Plant where wanted if possible, as 

 growth is much impeded by transplanting. 



Asii-Leaved Maple {Negundo aceroides). ' — This tree is one of the easiest of all to 

 propagate, and for great amount of fuel in a short time it has no superior. lu Illinois it is 

 being planted for sugar-making. Its wood in the older States, and in Europe, is used in 

 cabinet-work. Gather seeds in fall ; keep under box as with ash, and sow where 

 ■wanted. Under any kind of culture where a Cottonwood will grow, this tree will 

 flourish equally well or better. 



Hackberry {Cellis occidentalis). — Our native variety of hackberry grows very rapidly 

 under culture, and has a special value for making flat hoops for apple and flour barrels. 

 It splits very freely, and if cut in summer, and the bark peeled, the rails when nailed 

 on posts last many years. For fuel it is about like soft maple. The fruit is about the 

 size of i^eas, and is usually abundant on our river-bottoms. Wash the sweet pulp 

 from the seeds and mix with sand for early spring sowing. 



Chestnut (Castanea resca). — In the south half of the State, and on first-class fruit 

 soils in the central district, this may be made a profitable tree for cultivation. Of 

 all the trees known to the writer this is the most retarded in growth by transplanting. 

 Trees grown from the nuts where wanted will attain size for small posts while 

 the transplanted ones are hardly large enough for lima-bean poles. Good success has 

 been attained by plauting the nuts in Yankee corn-hills, giving the corn good care and 

 keeping the hills free from weeds. After gathering the corn, before cold weather, 

 break the stalks so as to make a partial shelter over the plants. The second year 

 cultivate welluntilfirst of July, after which let weedsgrow to shade the ground. The 

 chestnut is specially injured when young, (and the same holds good with all forest- 

 trees to greater or less extent), by excessive heating of soil under our August sun. 

 After the third year the ground will be well shaded with the trees and they will make 

 rapid growth, and will richly repay for the trouble and care of management while 

 young. The chestnuts to be used for seed must not be allowed to become dry, or to 

 mold or heat from being too closely confined. They should be mixed with pure 

 sand and kept through winter where they will be damp but not too wet. Seed grown 

 north is every time preferable. Nuts grown in Benton County have produced seedlings 

 standing our climate better than those coming from the east or south. 



Red Mulberry {Morus rubra). — This is a very handsome ornamental tree, growing 

 very rapidly during the first years after planting, and soon attaining size suitable 

 for grape-vine or other stakes, and even for posts. The timber is strong, compact, 

 and very durable. If dried before set in the soil, it is questionable whether we have 

 any timber, doing well in rich soils, as durable for posts or stakes as this. A drawback 

 to its culture is tlie scarcity of seed, the birds generally getting the fruit as fast as 

 ripe. Wash the pulp from seed and mix with sand for early spring sowing, either in 

 seed-bed or where wanted. Plaut the mulberry where sheltered from the west and 

 m rthwest by belts of trees like elm or Cottonwood that will better stand the rake of 



' By some botanists called Acer negundo. 



