310 Division of Forestry. [Bull. 165 



Kan., some very fine results have been obtained with the red 

 cedar. Trees planted in 1888 made a growth in height of prac- 

 tically one foot each year and are handsome, well-grown speci- 

 mens. It is sometimes necessary in order to secure a sym- 

 metrical, well-formed tree to pinch back a branch that is mak- 

 ing too rapid growth, but heavy pruning of evergreens should 

 never be allowed. The natural form of the tree is vastly su- 

 perior, both from a practical, commercial point of view and 

 landscape effect, to any form that may be secured by severe 

 pruning. 



These evergreens are the best trees for windbreak purposes, 

 they are at work all the year, and while their growth is not 

 rapid they have demonstrated their hardiness and ability to 

 withstand any hardship except fire, when once they are well 

 established in the soil. 



I am well aware that many settlers have had many dis- 

 couraging failures result from their attempts to grow the va- 

 rious species of evergreens. As a rule high prices were paid 

 for the little trees, and they were set with fond hopes and 

 happy expectations of the improvement the trees would work 

 in the appearance of the home. 



In many cases the hopes were short-lived, and the planter 

 saw his trees fade, and when they assumed the brown color 

 of the buffalo grass he remembered the oft-repeated prophecy 

 of the deposed ranchman, "The desert will come back and 

 claim its own," and as he saw the leaves drop and next winter 

 only the bare stem where he had hoped for a beautiful snow 

 picture of green and white, he feared the prophecy was a true 

 one. The great cause of loss in planting has been due to the 

 fact that when the roots of these species become dry the 

 gummy sap hardens in the tissue, or even exudes and forms a 

 coat about the roots, enclosing each in a water-tight compart- 

 ment. The little tree may hold its color for some time, but no 

 root growth is possible. Unless carefully protected from sun 

 and air every moment of the time it is out of the soil the chance 

 for its success is very small. 



Packing in wet moss should always be practiced, and when- 

 ever possible the tree should be "balled" the soil in which the 

 roots have grown taken up with the tiny tree and taken with 

 it to its new location. 



The best success in growing evergreens has been secured by 



