FORESTRY MANUAL. 25 



FORESTS, WOODLANDS, TREES. 



BY HON. SUEL FOSTER, MUSCATINE. 



Tne subject of the influence of trees in rain-fall deserves the attention of 

 farmers. Every farm should be divided into suitable lots of five to forty acres 

 making divisions on the highest land for planting timber-belts. The strong, 

 sweeping winds drive the dust from the soil, especially from the hills and 

 ridges, and dry the moisture ; and this exhaustion of water from the soil is 

 evidently very great. Forests keep the water from running off, and prevent; 

 the sun and wind from drying the ground. 



The farmer can thus readily see how he can benefit his farm by planting 

 wind-breaks, while, if his tree-planting induces rain, the moist wind will be 

 likely to pass it on to the adjacent or remote country beyond the reach of 

 his patriotism. Besides the drying effect of the wind, which is more serious 

 here in this level prairie country than it is in the Atlantic States, we find 

 the blowing of the crops about, and sometimes laying them flat, a greatdam- 

 age to the crop. 



WHAT TREES TO GROW. 



No farm is complete without a wood-lot, and it is easier to raise one than 

 to clear off one covered with the usual natural growth. When one plants his 

 own timber he can have such as he wants. White ash is best for farm tools ; 

 Black cherry for cabinet work. It will grow as fast as Black walnut — the 

 walnut roots are poisonous to the crops and orchard trees for some distance. 

 Then, for post timber, the Hardy catalpa has lately been more extensively 

 recommended than any other tree. It is said, by undoubted evidence, that 

 it has been known to last in the ground, as a post, for more than fifty years. 

 This tree is a rapid grower, easily raised from seed and easily transplanted. 



The Osage orange, our well known hedge plant, may be grown as a forest 

 tree or wind-break in the south half of the State. It is a remarkably firm, 

 heavy, strong wood, and valuable for many farm uses— for mallets, mauls, 

 beetles, sled-stakes, pins, rake-teeth, single-trees, double-trees, neck-yokes, and 

 many such uses that are constantly arising on the farm. 



Set some evergreens about the premises. They make the best wind-break, 

 Set them on the north of the orchard and the buildings. Plant deciduous 

 and fruit trees as early in spring as the ground can be plowed, and ever- 

 greens a little later. Some people do not have any luck setting ever- 

 greens; it is because they do not know how. Handle them carefully. 

 If the ground is dry use plenty of water. Keep the roots from drying 

 from the time they are taken from the nursery till they are planted 

 out. Plenty of wet straw or rags of gunny-sacks about the roots will 

 keep them moist in going from nursery to the place where they are to be 

 planted. Make a mud-hole and dip the roots in before setting. Dig 

 the hole large enough to lay the roots out in their natural positions ; fill 

 in the earth and poke it carefully underneath all the roots. When the roots 

 are all covered and the hole half filled with soil, dash in water enough to 

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