24 DAKOTA AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 



grow with comparatively little care in states east and south, that their 

 tree claims can be neglected. I am convinced that no crop demands 

 more care and attention. 



It is usually true that the settler is more or less dependent on his 

 year's rop, and hence turns all his energies to the care of the fields 

 that will bring him a harvest; but there is always an interval between 

 seed time and harvest just at the season when trees should be receiving 

 the highest culture. The importance of thorough culture cannot be too 

 greatly emphasized. 



Among the worst enemies to trees in Dakota is the couch grass 

 ( Triticum repens L. ) mentioned in this bulletin. It is almost impossi- 

 ble to rid a tree-claim of this pest after it is well established. The only 

 way is to dig out the plants with a spade, being careful to secure all the 

 delicate underground stems, for every bud that is left will grow, and the 

 plant spreads rapidly. 



Culture should cease early in August. Thereafter it is only neces- 

 sary to watch carefully for couch grass, removing every plant of it. If 

 seeds are used instead of trees, they may may be planted either in the 

 fall or spring. All things considered, I think it will be found safest to 

 save seed in the fall, ( unless, like white elm and cottonwood, they ripen 

 very early in summer) mix them with damp sand, and bury them 

 slightly in a shady place, so that they will remain frozen until they can 

 be planted in the spring. The results of experiments with seeds are 

 given in this bulletin. 



As to varieties, green ash and box elder are favorably mentioned in 

 every part of the state. White elm has been generally successful 

 throughout the state. Cotton wood and willow are more preyed upon 

 by insects than box elder, but both are hardy and cheap, and will doubt- 

 less continue to form a large part of our tree-claims. 



NOTES ON VAKIETIES. 



WHITE ELM. To the many planters who are seeking for a better tim- 

 ber tree than box elder for use in tree-claims and shelter-belts, the 

 white elm is worthy a trial. In the plantation set last spring, two year 

 old trees of this species made excellent growth. In the table of meas- 

 urements only one branch of a tree is measured, but the white elm is a 

 branching tree, and hence has many leaves, indicating also a good 

 growth of root. The wood is tough and far more durable than box- 

 elder. Save the item of rapid growth, the elm is in every way superior 

 to the soft wooded trees. Elm seed should be planted as soon as ripe, 

 in May or June. The seed soon loses its vitality and will seldom ger- 

 minate if kept till the following spring. It is a slender grower the first 





