1863. 



THE ILLINOIS FAEMER. 



280 



would be set out tlie next season. It is 

 not probable that any great amount of 

 seed of the Osage can be had before 

 the spring of 1865, and it will be an- 

 other year before the plants will be 

 ready to set, and then they can only be 

 used on dry land. In two years the 

 willow will have a good start, and in 

 three to four years more make a good 

 fence. Aside from the fence the willow 

 has other values — shelter from high 

 winds, and in the division of estates 



ten occuring, the willow fence is very 

 valuable for the number of cords of 

 wood that it will furnish. It is one of 

 those improvements that is steadily 

 adding to its own value. 



"We look upon the discovery that 

 some of our forest trees are adapted to 



sight of the Osage, by any means, for 

 along roadside, the garden and orchard, 

 that need protection from pigs,boysand 

 poaching men, it is of great value and 

 cannot weU be dispensed with. 



PKEPARATION FOB THE FENCE. 



It is necessary to success that the 

 place intended to set the plants should 

 be fitted during the autumn. A stri]) 

 at least a rod in width, should be plow- 

 ed deeply, by either trench plowing or 

 subsoiling. If but a narrow strip is 



and changing of fences which is so of- j plowed it is too apt to dry out, and kill^ 



the plants, as young willow plants can-" 

 not stand a drouth to good advantage. 

 This season we have seen them die after 

 attaining two feet, and large numbers 

 at six to ten inches. The ground should 

 therefore be prepared to the depth of a 

 foot, be thoroughly harrowed and roU- 



the making of live fences as a new era j ed, so as to leave it in fine tilth. We 



in agricultural progress, that will make 

 rural pursuits more a pleasure and cer- 

 .tainly add to their profits. The heavy 

 drain on the farmers' resources con- 

 stantly made by our system of dead 

 fences is the great drawback to other 

 improvements, and one of telling effect 

 against the prairies, and from which, 

 there has thus far, been no escape, but 

 we trust that this old man of the sea 

 will be thrown off or exchanged for les- 

 ser burdens. 



We must have shelter from the prai- 

 rie winds, not only for orcharding, but 

 for our field crops, and to accomplish 

 this we must plant belts of timber in 

 addition to our fences, we must use 

 some material that wiU answer both 

 purposes. These elements have all 

 been demonstrated by the white willow 

 in an eminent degree. It is then a 

 loss of time to wait for the end of the 

 war to grow the Osage. 



We would not have our people lose 



need not tell the farmer that to grow a 

 cutting, the soil must be finely commi- 

 nuted, yet it will do to oft remind him; 

 of the fact, as it is too often overlooked; 

 in the preparation of the soil for thig' 

 purpose. It must be borne in mind" 

 that the preparation of the soil must be 

 completed in autumn, as it is not to be 

 disturbed in the spring on no account, 

 for so soon as the frost is out sufficient- 

 ly to thrust down the cutting in the soft 

 soil, it must be done. If you delay un- 

 til the soil is settled, the work cannot 

 be so weU or so easily done. The wil- 

 low is the first tree to put out its vernal 

 growth; and to give it a good start, 

 must have the advantage of the mois- 

 ture of the soil. If this is attended to, 

 and the soil in good order, the plant ^ 

 will become so well established that " 

 no subsequent drouth can do more than 

 to check its growth. , 



THE CTJTTIErGS. 



These can be taken.: off from the Ml 



..St.-, 



'^t^-' -JutiU^JB 



