THE EARTH'S BOUNTY 



cultivated all through the season, just as if 

 the plants were ordinary vegetables, with two 

 exceptions. 



Early in their life history, the seedlings 

 commenced to die out, and to prevent trans- 

 planting into another bed, a layer of fine sand 

 was scattered over the ground, and drawn up 

 around each plant. Catalpas belong to the 

 tolerant class of trees, and as the bed was in 

 the open, a temporary shade was erected over 

 them, by driving stakes into the ground, 

 stretching poultry wire over them, and over 

 that cedar boughs. 



Later, we adopted the hurdle made of slats, 

 recommended by the government. They are 

 just rough frames, with slats and equal spaces 

 alternated, supported on posts three feet high. 

 The following spring, when the seedlings were 

 one year old, they were transplanted, left for 

 two years and then set out in their permanent 

 homes. That was eight years ago. They now 

 range from twelve to fifteen feet in height. 



Cottonwoods were started at the same time, 

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