46 ELEMENTARY FORESTRY. 



take their places. (2) Many kinds that are somewhat tender 

 are helped very much by being 1 grown among the hardier 

 kinds until well established. In this case the protecting trees 

 are called nurse trees. The Scotch Pine is seldom a success 

 when standing alone on our western prairies, but when 

 partially protected by some deciduous tree it stands very 

 well. The same is generally true of Hard Maple in this sec- 

 tion and of Catalpa and Black Walnut in Southern Minne- 

 sota. (3) In good mixed plantings the ground is more likely to 

 be properly shaded than it would be in clear plantings of such 

 thinly leafed species as the Cotton wood or White Elm, which 

 do well and afford good shade when mixed with Green Ash or 

 Box Elder. (4) Mixed plantings are most interesting and 

 ornamental. (5) They attract more birds by their better 

 protection and the greater variety of food offered. (6) While 

 the chance of injury to some of the species by climatic 

 changes, diseases and insects is increased, the possibility of 

 total loss from any or all of these causes is reduced to the 

 minimum. 



The most important constituent of a prairie grove of 

 mixed trees should be some well-known durable kind as 

 the Elm. Ash, or Box Elder of which there should be a 

 sufficient number to completely shade the ground when the 

 others are gone. On the outside especially on the north and 

 west it is often a good plan to put at least a few rows of White 

 Willow or possibly Cottonwood to furnish a quick protection. 

 The rest of the grove should consist of hardy sorts and may 

 include some of the evergreens and such fruit bearing trees or 

 shrubs as the Wild Plum, Wild Black Cherry, Russian Mul- 

 berry and Juneberry. These latter furnish food for the birds 

 and may often be a help in supplying the home table. The 

 plan of planting with a view of providing some food for birds 

 is not mere sentiment for they protect our gardens from many 

 insects and if we furnish an abundance of Russian Mulberry 

 they will not trespass much on our strawberries or raspberries. 

 It is the author's opinion that in all our prairie planting we 

 should pay more attention to using our native fruits and Rus- 

 sian Mulberry as plants of secondary importance. 



List of Trees for Mixed Plantings. Some suggestions may be 



