EVERGREENS. 



52 



they are a success; but they cannot endure the scorching sura 

 and the hot winds of the semi-arid West. One year I planted 

 1,000 with the greatest care under a screen and gave them the- 

 best attention, but even there our Western sirocco found and 

 killed all but four of them. Beside them I planted 1,000 Chinese- 

 Arborvltae and lost but few of them. OUr advice for the West 

 Is to let them entirely alone. 



The, Arborvitae — Thuga. The White Cedar and Arborvltae 

 are generally used synonymously but Newhall and others make- 

 a distinction. This is more of a Southern tree, growing from 20 

 to 50 feet tall, with very close, dense branches. 



Red Cedar — Juniperus Virglniana. This is the most widely 

 distributed of all our evergreens. Tou see them from Maine 

 to Florida and you find different forms of growth according to 

 different localities. In the Eastern states they take the form of 

 the Irish Juniper and are called Savins. In the Western states 

 they are more branching. The Southern type is worthless in the 

 North. They cannot be moved over 300 miles North of their 

 habitat with safety nor is it safe to move them too far West 

 from the humid, into the drier air of the trans-Missouri coun- 

 try. The Platte Cedar for years has been famous for its rapid 

 erro-wth nnd harditipss but dTirinsr nt^r recent -wet -cifinsnna a. 

 blight has mowed them down by the million. W. H. Bruning, 

 who devised a process for raising them from seed the first year 

 after planting, lost $20,000 worth in one year, and gave up the 

 business. 



Added to this, most of our state Experiment stations East 

 and West. North and South, charge them with generating the 

 apple rust which has killed many of our choice trees. Notably 

 the Wealthy, which is probably the best we have, is very sensi- 

 tive to their influence and ne often see whole trees defoliated 

 with Cedar rust. So for the present this tree, usually so hardy 

 and valuable, is at a, discount. The Western type being very 

 hardy will probably not be affected west of the 100th meridian, 

 where it will be a companion of the Ponderosa Pine. I think 

 there will be no trouble with it in Western Kansas and Nebras- 

 ka, where it is found growing wild. 



Propagation, We have more inquiries regarding the propa- 

 gation of this tree than for anything else. Mr. Bruning, who 

 made such wonderful success, having worked 30 years to per- 

 fect his process, refuses to divulge it without com.pensation 

 and we cannot blame him. Two methods are used: First, put 

 the ripe seeds on a board and with a brick rub off the pulp. 

 Throw the seed in water to soak a few days. Wash them clean. 

 Soak in weak lye for a day or so, then wash them and plant 

 in a bed covered with sand an inch deep. This must be done 

 In the fall. Put hay or coarse litter over the bed to keep from 

 drying, and be sure the seeds do not dry in gemmating the fol- 

 lowing spring. Second method. Plant the berries in the fall 



