FOEEST CULTURE IN KANSAS. .575 



sndflenly and blow furiously from the northwest. In winter the winds are north and 

 northwest. The pIantin<T is generally of soft maple, sycamore, black walnut, and cotton- 

 wood, on the prairies, with some sugar-maple on the bluffs ; honey-locust is preferred 

 by many, and some plant mulberry and wild cherry. Of trees not native, the ailauthus, 

 Lombardy and silver poplars, Austrian, Scotch, and white pines are probably the only 

 kinds that have so far shown a tendency to thrive, and even these, except the ailau- 

 thus, do better when partially protected i'rom the hot suns on a south hill-side. The 

 osage orange may prove a valuable timber-tree. The chestnut and larch have been 

 largely planted, but have generally failed, probably from the dry atmosphere. 



Small forests have been i^lanted in this vicinity, and, when rightly managed, have 

 been successful. The largest are not probably over 20 acres in a place. Cottonwood 

 is generally used, with some walnuts, locusts, &c. 



As to effect of forests upon climate, it is easily shown that their absence accelerates 

 evaporation. The breaking of the wind-currents also has an effect easily observed 

 but difficult to describe. The snow lies on the ground longer in the woods than on the 

 prahics. 



The black locust and mountain-ash are much troubled with borers, especially the 

 former, but most insect damage is done by the grasshoppers. 



Soft-maple seeds are gathered in May and planted before they get dry, in nursery 

 rows. They may grow from 1 to 3 feet the first season and may be easily transplanted 

 when two or three years old. Honey-locust seed should be scalded and planted in the 

 spring, and this tree is easily transplanted. Cottonwood and willows grow easily from 

 cuttings made in the spring. A good way is to take stakes or cuttings about 4 feet 

 long and drive into the ground where they are to grow. They will grow as well as 

 wii h roots, and the labor is less. Black walnuts should be planted where they are to 

 remain. Their growth is very slow for a few years at first. "Groves and forests should 

 always be p' anted close, the trees, not more than 3 or 4 feet apart each way. They 

 will need room as they get larger, and should be thinned out from time to time. Cot- 

 tonwood, hickories, elms, sycamore, and walnut generally spring up where an old 

 growth has been cut off, and extend into prairie-laud where the fires are kept out. 

 — {E. Snyder, Atchison, Kaus.) 



Cloud County: 



I have been very careful, in making up my report in regard to artificial forest-tree 

 culture in this county, to get as near the correct amount set out as x>ossible, and I am 

 happy to say that tlie culture of forest-trees is most encouraging. From careful in- 

 quiry and observation, I find that there are in this county about 2,350 acres of artificial 

 forests. The last two years (1875, 187G) have been very encouraging to the grower of 

 forest-trees, as they have made such a rapid growth, and the autumn being so long and 

 favorable, the wood matured. There have been a number of claims taken in this county 

 under the timber-culture act, but I don't believe one person in twenty will ever com- 

 ply with the requirements of the law. In fa^t, the law as it now stands is a farce, and 

 the dearest way a man can get land, provided he does fill the law ; but they hardly ever 

 attempt to fill the requirements of the law. I think it would be very desirable if the 

 law could be changed so as to i)ut out trees for timber-belts for the protection of the 

 whole farm, or put out a given number of trees on a quarter-section ; but where a man 

 attempts to put out forty acres of timber on a quarter-section, and cultiv.ate as ir, should 

 be, he has got more on his hands than he can do successfully. — (C. H. Sheffield, Glasco, 

 Kans. ; State Hort. Report, 1876, p. 127.) 



Coffey County : 



Of evergreens, the Austrian pine and red cedar suffered the least injury in 1874. * * 

 * The flat-headed borer breeds in the apple, pear, cherry, plum, haw, and maple, and in 

 the spring of 1875, was most destructive to the apple "and maple trees. The round- 

 headed borer has not yet damaged our trees, and is seldom found. I have never found 

 a fiat-headed borer in trees leaning to the southwest, nor have I known of their eggs 

 hatching in a sound, healthy tree. * » * In a nursery one mile west of me, the rows 

 running north and south, have not been troubled with borers, and no unusual protec- 

 tion has been used. * * * From the poles used for supports of our grape-vines, 

 such as the walnut, mulberry, red bud, and oaks, there come forth several kinds of 

 beetles, but none of them were of the species attacking fruit-trees. * » * There 

 cannot be too much importance attached to the matter of protecting trees from the 

 direct rays of the summer's sun, and it does appear that leaning the b. dies to the 

 southwest is one of the most reliable means. Boot-Ike. — These insects, especially 

 destructive to grape-vines, threaten to be annoying in this county unless promptly 

 checked. I have found them on the roots of apple, pear, cherry, grape, and ever- 

 greens. — ( W. TV. Tipton, Burlington, Kans. ; State Hort. Report, 1875, p. 146.) 



Dickinson County : 



A few of our citizens have planted wind-breaks with success. The first settlers in 

 the tos-n of Cheever organized an a.rboricultural society in the spring of 1872, and 



