January 1904.] Tests of Forest Trees. 97 



make a growth of eight feet in height and an inch in diameter in one 

 season. 



Ordinarily the mulberry has made sufficient growth to make fair 

 posts in ten or twelve years, and in low, rich soil somewhat sooner. 

 They have endured close planting in rich soil, but on poor soil have 

 made but slow growth in thick plantings. Its thick, shrubby growth 

 makes it a desirable tree for windbreaks. When grown at greater 

 distances it has required severe pruning in order to form trees of even 

 appearance. Trees grown in this way have frequently made a diam- 

 eter of ten inches at four feet from the ground in fifteen years. 



A twenty-two-year-old tree growing in Harper county on rich, 

 moist soil furnishes the best measurements taken. The tree forked 

 near the ground, but four feet from the fork the three branches meas- 

 ured 15, 10 and 8 inches, respectively, and would probably cut twenty 

 good posts. 



The mulberry has withstood the drought without apparent injury, 

 but has been killed back'somewhat in very severe winters. In most 

 cases the injury has affected only the previous year's wood, and the 

 trees have in nearly every instance made a good recovery. The posts 

 are durable, and the wood makes good fuel, It is to be recommended 

 for general planting. 



The mulberry has been readily propagated by seeds. Good results 

 have been secured by planting the seeds as soon as ripe, either by 

 planting the entire fruit, or by washing the seeds from the pulp and 

 planting immediately. The seeds soon germinate, and in good seasons 

 have made a growth of from one to two feet during the summer and 

 fall. Washing and drying the seeds and planting the following spring 

 has also been practiced with fair success. 



COTTON WOOD. (Populus monolifera.) 



The cottonwood has been the most-rapid-growing species under 

 observation. As should be expected, the wood of such rapid growth 

 is of comparatively low value for fuel and timber, and has but little 

 durability when used as posts. For barrels, packing cases, boxes and 

 crates the lumber is considerably used. With an increasing demand 

 and decreasing supply of other woods for such purposes, it seems 

 probable that plantations of cottonwood might be made profitable. 

 On sandy land and land along rivers liable to wash, cottonwood 

 groves would prove desirable. 



On uplands the cottonwood gives evidence of being short-lived, 

 while on lower bottom lands trees thirty years old are making vig- 

 orous growths. It is the only species of which any number have 

 made growth of sufficient size to make sawed lumber. 



