tACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 407 



With the rapid settlement of the Western prairies, and the scarcity of timber 

 for fences, there came a demand for hedges, and suddenly there sprung into ex- 

 istence an extensive business collecting the oranges and grinding out the seeds, 

 which were washed free from the pulp and dried for shipment. 



Immense quantities of these seeds were thus shipped to seedsmen in the 

 Northern cities, while extensive nurseries were devoted solely to the growing of 

 Osage hedge plants, with which thousands of farms are fenced, not only in the 

 regions which were originally prairies, but also in States which had become prac- 

 tically treeless, although once heavily timbered. 



In places these trees have been planted in solid masses for forest and wind 

 breaks with excellent results wherever the plant is hardy. 



While young, the tree grows quite rapidly, and when forced into an upright 

 position by close planting, becomes a tall and valuable tree, suitable for posts, tele- 

 graph and telephone poles, and would doubtless make excellent railway ties, 

 valuable especially on account of their durability. 



A plantation could be thinned, cutting out surplus trees, taking from one- 

 fourth to one-fifth each year, and as the Osage grows from the old stump it would 

 renew itself indefinitely. 



The young plant, for a few weeks after its appearance above the ground, is 

 quite tender, but as it becomes more woody, it is very hardy, and quite able to 

 take its place with other plants unless smothered with grass. 



If the oranges can be secured near where the trees are wanted, they may be 

 thrown into piles and allowed to decay, strewing the seed with the pulp along the 

 furrow. 



If dried seed are used, they should be soaked a week, and then mixed with 

 sand, or plaster, so as to separate in sowing, which may be done by hand, or with 

 seed drill, planting not too deep, and from half an inch to one inch or more apart, 

 depending upon the use to be made of the plants. 



For forest planting it would be better to give them plenty of room in the 

 rows, so that each tree could have its due share of moisture and nutriment. 



Rows eight feet apart, and plants four feet apart in the rows, would be ample 

 space, and supply large quantities of poles for various uses. 



WHITE POPLAR, OR ABELE. 

 Populus Alba. 



No tree exceeds the Abele in tenacity of life under most adverse conditions. 

 It resists the smoke, gas and dust of city streets, thrives under the treatment that 

 destroys almost every shade tree, the- constant tramping, excavating for street im- 

 provements, paving, and even when covered entirely with asphalt it seems to find 

 some way of obtaining enough moisture and nourishment to preserve its life. 



The persistence with which the Abele sends up suckers, and spreads from the 

 root is astonishing, and this habit, together with the fact of its roots running along 

 close by the surface, and forming a dense intricate mass of roots about it, makes 

 it one of the best trees for steep hillsides, where the land is liable to wash. 



On loose rocky hillsides or stiff clay slopes, as well as in good soils, the Abele 

 seems to be equally at home, having become thoroughly Americanized during the 

 two hundred years domiciliation. 



