. I XI) EXPERIMENT STA TfOX. 1 31 



the lawn, but anything short of complete success is apt to be a 

 failure. 



In lawn planting, as in street planting, the roots of trees or 

 shrubs should be freed from all bruises by pruning away the in- 

 jured parts. Rich top soil should be placed among the roots, 

 which must be given their natural spread, and all plants should 

 be set firm. It is best to keep the soil near transplanted trees 

 free from weeds and grass. If the plants are mulched, the mulch- 

 ing can be removed at intervals and a good hoeing will prove 

 useful, after which the mulch should be replaced, 



VARIETIES. 



FOR GROVE PLANTING. In discussing the relative value of 

 varieties, it is essential to keep in mind the purpose which the 

 tree is designed to fill, and its adaptability to the peculiar condi- 

 tions of the locality in which it is to be planted. This is most 

 important for the new-comer, because South Dakota differs 

 greatly in climate from the older settled parts of the country. 

 As an advocate of mixed planting, I have not had occasion to 

 search for a "general purpose tree," and it is doubtful if such a 

 thing exists for Dakota. We have two distinct needs, and they 

 are not met in any one species, a quick growing tree that will 

 soon give us protection, and a valuable timber that will relieve 

 us of the expense of high lumber rates. 



RAPID GBOWING VARIETIES COTTON WOOD (Populus monili- 

 fera). This tree has been used more than any other in the 

 plantations of the western prairies. It is hardy, is the most 

 rapid grower of any of the natives, is propagated readily either 

 from seeds or cuttings, and makes fire-wood more quickly than 

 any species. It reaches its highest development south of this 

 state, but under favorable conditions it attains large size here. 

 The most favorable locality for cottonwood is the rich bottom 

 lands of streams, but it is successfully grown on high prairies. 

 There jare several serious objections to cottonwood for close 

 planting. It it not a dense foliage tree and never makes a suffi- 

 cient shade to prevent weed growth. This is the most serious 

 defect in the tree, because it makes it unfit for the principal pur- 



