148 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



state, and we are satisfied from what we have seen that as soon as they 

 grow plants in the northwestern part of the state from seed grown 

 there, that the box-elder will become acclimated in that part of the state, 

 and will stand anything that they ever have there. From about the 

 west side of Lincoln county east the box-elder does extremely well, 

 does not injure in any way and makes a very rapid growth, and we 

 have found that timber claims planted largely with the box-elder or 

 catalpa from there east will shade out the weeds in a very short space 

 of time. We have had box-elders completely shade out the weeds in a 

 little over two years. In three years it was impossible to get through 

 the timber with a horse and needing no further work. We can say the 

 same of the catalpa on soils and in localities where the catalpa has suc- 

 ceeded. We have, particularly, had very good success with the catalpa 

 in Chase county near the Colorado line, where we planted about 300,000 

 of them on one contract, and we find they have done remarkably well 

 Something, I think, depends on the character of the soil and on its 

 ability to retain a fair degree of moisture both summer and winter. 

 Wherever there is a liability to excessive drouth, summer, fall, or 

 winter, then the ash seems to be the most successful tree we have so 

 far handled. But unfortunately it is a slow grower under such con- 

 ditions, and requires five or six years' cultivation to get it large 

 enough to take care of itself. Of course this increases the expense of 

 establishing a plantation. We are inclined to think thai we shall be 

 obliged to use mostly of this tree on the highest tables we are plant- 

 ing near the western edge of the state and in eastern Colorado. It is 

 a very sure tree and will stand the extreme drouth as well as the dry 

 and arid winters of those localities. We have succeeded fairly well 

 with black locust, not only in central Nebraska, but in the western 

 part of the state and in eastern Colorado, and the tree is gaining in 

 favor. Its value for posts is well known, and if it proves to be well 

 adapted to those localities, I think the call for it will rapidly increase. 

 Our experience with all these trees indicates that there is no portion 

 of Nebraska so dry or so difficult to handle but what careful prepara- 

 tion of the soil, planting with nursery grown trees, and careful culti- 

 vation for the periods above indicated will establish a good growth, 

 and that this method of procuring land is much cheaper than pre- 

 empting or homesteading, even if the value of the tree is rated as 

 nothing, and there is no portion of the state where a fine grove, seven 



