THE TIMBER RESOURCES OF NEBRASKA 215 



of forests. Nebraska children learn from these trees another impor- 

 tant lesson. They see in their tree-protected homes the results of 

 long-continued labor, and come to know the close relation that exists 

 between intelligent work and well-being. 



But the sense of pleasure and satisfaction from trees is not lost with 

 the passing of childhood. It continues and increases with years. No 

 one in Nebraska more fully enjoys his possessions than the man who 

 can walk among his extensive groves of planted timber with his 

 friends and call their attention to the many interesting facts connected 

 with the growth of the trees and the methods of cultivation. To 

 accompany such a man on a trip of this kind is a real delight. 



GOVERNMENT INTEREST IN PLANTING IN NEBRASKA. 



Each successful plantation in Nebraska by benefiting one portion 

 has improved the entire region. The Government for this reason is 

 interested in the promotion of individual planting until every land- 

 owner shall plant in quantity sufficient for his needs. 



In Nebraska the Government has a further duty. In the State it 

 owns 9,798,688 acres of land, the larger body of which centers in the 

 region known as the sand hills. 1 Repeated trials have proved the sand 

 hills unfit for any branch of agriculture except grazing, and for this 

 purpose the sand hills proper do not have a high value. Coincident 

 with the experiments which proved agriculture a failure for the region, 

 other experiments and investigations have shown the natural condi- 

 tions to be well suited to the growing of timber. Dr. Charles E. 

 Bessey, who studied the region most thoroughly from the botanical 

 standpoint, was one of the first to call attention to the possibility of 

 foresting the sand hills. In his report to the State board of agricul- 

 ture in 1892, he stated: 



During the year an investigation was made of the region in northern Nebraska 

 known as the sand-hill country, in order to ascertain what native plants grow natu- 

 rally upon the hills, and in the valleys, with especial reference to their value in sup- 

 plying forage to domestic animals. The results of this investigation prove to be of 

 unusual interest, showing us that in the sand hills we have a region quite unlike the 

 remainder of the State in many of its physical features. The report made by Mr. 

 J. G. Smith at once suggests the possibility of turning these hills and valleys to some 

 better use than they now serve, and the probability that with some effort they might 

 be covered with profitable forest growth. From all that I have been able to learn of 

 the region, I am led to believe that it is possible to cover large tracts of this country 

 with trees and shrubs, from which a good revenue might eventually be derived. 



In the same report L. E. Hicks, geologist of the State board of 

 agriculture, said: 



The foresting of the sand hills, if that shall ever happily be accomplished by com- 

 bined and persistent effort of individuals, or by a liberal policy on the part of the 

 National and State governments, will add a new artificial condition of considerable 

 importance to the highly favorable natural conditions which already exist. 



These opinions are approved by all who have studied the sand-hill 



1 Report of the Commissioner of the General Land Office, 1900. 



