30 THE AMES FORESTER 



to face the tree planting problem ; but they are being attacked in 

 a new light. 



It is perhaps safe to say that the maintaining of a nursery 

 in Western Kansas is one of the greatest stimuli to tree planting. 

 A commercial nursery in this section at the present stage would 

 undoubtedly "go broke." The state is about the only institution 

 which can afford to handle such a proposition for the sole pur- 

 pose of "furthering the cause." The results that are being ob- 

 tained justify the maintenance of the institution. Through the 

 Western Nursery, located at the Fort Hays Experiment Station, 

 Hays, Kansas, the source of supply is placed much nearer to 

 the purchaser and furnishes planting stock at a season which is 

 comparable to the planting season in this section of the state. 

 While it may seem a small item to say that many people are in- 

 duced to plant trees through visiting the Forest Nursery and 

 through simply feeling that the stock is near at hand, in reality 

 this influence is surprisingly large. The majority of the trees 

 shipped from the Hays Nursery go to the Western part of the 

 state, and the "yard business" is nearly as large as the mail 

 order business. A large number of the Western Kansas farmers 

 have only moderate incomes, and they look at the increased 

 freight and express charges for long distances a long time. 



Then, it is important that the stock be ready to plant when 

 the time comes to plant it. The planting season is apt to be 

 short, early or late. Where the stock is raised under the condi- 

 tions of the region it keeps pace with the season so that it lies 

 dormant or begins to grow according to local conditions. This 

 is apt to cause less delay if the season is early or furnish stock 

 which is not too far advanced if the season is late. This factor 

 is not important where the seasons change steadily, but where 

 there are such fluctuations as in Western Kansas it has an im- 

 portant influence. Also, if hardy varieties are to be found and 

 raised they must be tested under conditions prevailing. 



In spite of all the need for trees, the Forester still has prob- 

 lems to overcome in furthering the tree planting movement. He 

 has to bring the people to adapt their ideas of tree growth to 

 existing conditions. A large part of the population has come 

 from sections of the world where trees have grown in abundance 

 and with little or no care. Kansas was treeless when they ar- 

 rived ; it surely was supposed to remain so, in their judgment. 

 Popular belief has said, "Trees cannot be raised in Kansas," and 

 this has settled all debates for many. The early efforts in the 

 form of the old "tree claim" were a failure. To others this 

 is conclusive proof. Regardless of the results of plantings in 

 older towns and the specimens that exist where care has been 

 given, it is hard to convince the "old timer" that he can afford 

 to plant a tree. Such convictions have their foundation, it is 

 true. A season such as 1915 with a total of 34.14 inches rainfall 



