FIFTH NATIONAI. CONSERVATION CONGRESS 71 



it is sometimes not absolutely necessary, although at all times desirable. Thin- 

 nings should begin early and should be much heavier than on the Uplands. 



The Middle West. 



The best opportunities for commercial planting in the Prairie Region is in 

 the eastern portion of the Middle West, on account of favorable climatic con- 

 ditions and excellent markets. As_ in other portions of the Prairie Region, 

 windbreaks and shelter belts will prove commercially profitable on practically 

 every Upland farm because of greater agricultural yields. The best field for 

 strictly commercial planting is offered in the production of fence posts and fuel, 

 although low-priced, fertile bottom land can be used profitably for the production 

 of ties, telephone poles and lumber. 



The Uplands. Dual purpose trees for shelter and the production of fence 

 posts and fuel recommended for the most fertile Upland soils of the eastern 

 two-thirds of this region are hardy catalpa, European larch, cottonwood, Osage 

 orange, while pine and white willow. Osage orange and hardy catalpa are not 

 recommended for use north of Central Iowa. With the exception of Osage 

 orange and hardy catalpa, fence posts of the species recommended for commercial 

 planting will have to be creosoted. For sandy lands in the western part of the 

 region the species recommended are Jack pine, Scotch pine. Western yellow pine 

 and red cedar. On better soils in the extreme western part of the region honey 

 locust, Russian mulberry, Osage orange, red cedar, western yellow pine, Austrian 

 pine, Scotch pine, green ash and while elm are recommended. 



In the Nebraska national forests western yellow pine has proved the best 

 for thefidge and bottom types; Jack pine for south slopes and Scotch pine for 

 north slopes. Austrian pine for ridges, south slopes and bottoms, and Norway 

 pine for north shopes are still under test. On the Kansas national forest yellow 

 pine is the most promising conifer for all sites with red fir and Jack pine not 

 thoroughly proved, and Austrian pine under test. Of the hardwoods, green ash 

 and cottonwood are the most hardy tried. Honey locust holds more promise 

 than the black locust, Osage orange or walnut. 



Lowlands. Throughout practically the entire rep;ion (except northern Iowa) 

 hardy catalpa and Osage orange will prove profit^.ble when grown for fence 

 posts on well-drained, fertile bottomlands. For lumber, pulp-wood, box boards, 

 staves, fence posts (creosoted) and fuel, the most profitable species is un- 

 doubtedly cottonwood; for fuel alone, white willow and silver maple. The three 

 last named species will do well on overflow lands not adapted to agriculture. 

 The returns from commercial planting of cottonwood for lumber from bottom- 

 land valued at $5 per acre is estimated at 7 per cent per annum.* 



* "Cottonwood in the Mississippi Valley," Bulletin of the U. S. Department of Agri- 

 culture, No. 24. 



