4 Growing Forest Trees in Western Nebraska 



but on the majority of the "claims" no trees were growing, tho 

 usually trees or seed had been planted, in compliance with the 

 law. 



The practice was to plant the trees four feet apart and to 

 cultivate them for a few years. After the requirements of the 

 law had been fulfilled, the trees were given little or no attention. 

 Weeds and grass fought the trees for the scanty supply of water 

 that was available, fire ran thru many groves, doing much in- 

 jury, and cattle often completed the damage. 



NATIVE FOREST TREES. No forest trees grew on the table- 

 lands before the advent of the settlers. There were some grow 





Fig. i. 



Plowing up typical "tree claim," Substation Farm, Field 49, 

 summer of 1905. 



ing along the streams and in the canyons. Along the streams 

 tributary to the Republican River, Cottonwood, Green Ash. 

 American Elm, and Hackberry were common ; along the Platte 

 and Niobrara Rivers and their tributaries a few species of coni- 

 fers were present also. Many of these trees were cut and used 

 by the settlers for fence posts, buildings, and fuel. The first 

 railroad trains that ran thru western Nebraska on the Union 

 Pacific railroad were drawn by engines fired by native wood and 

 ran on rails laid on native wood ties. Red Odar fence posts 



