AAS FORESTRY OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 
pruning. Byit laterals, or fibrous, feeding roots are induced; or, if larger 
sizes are desired before transplanting, root pruning, by running a tree- 
digger under rows and allowing them to remain a year or two longer, good 
results are obtained. Asarule, however, better success is had by trans- 
planting young trees when, as near as possible, all roots are preserved. 
Small trees cost less to purchase, transport, handle, and transplant. 
Alternating, especially certain varieties, has not given satisfaction. 
Trees in some respects are not unlike mankind—will not fraternize. 
For instance, oaks, walnuts, and hickories will not fraternize with 
maple, cottonwoods, and elms. When planted near each other, the 
latter will invariably lean away from the former, assuming crooked, 
gnarly appearance, and in the end virtually die out. 
INCIDENTAL ILLS. 
Thus far few ills have attended timber culture in this State. The great 
losses or failures have been from careless handling, planting, and after 
neglect. Black locust was planted extensively in earlier days, but, be- 
ing so badly affected by borers, its cultivation, until of late, was almost 
entirely abandoned. The pest which almost universally destroyed it in 
the beginning, suddenly and without known cause disappeared, and 
that valuable variety of timber is again receiving merited attention. 
In certain portions of the State, during one or two years, a large green 
worm, name not known, defoliated most soft maples, for a time check- 
ing their growth. In a few instances the same borer attacking black 
locust, to a limited extent injured soft maple and cottonwoods. They 
being of such rampant growth, injury was not material. Trees attacked 
were principally those used for ornamental purposes—those on streets in 
cities and villages. 
Where ground has been well and deeply prepared, good healthy 
plants used, care exercised in handling and planting, followed by at- 
tention and proper cultivation until able to care for themselves, there 
has been no good cause for complaint. 
IMPORTANCE OF SPONTANEOUS GROWTH. 
Too much importance cannot attach to spontaneous timber growing. 
Nature, in this respect, is both accommodating and bounteous in her 
provisions. Waste places, as a rule, are utilized. Lands which, if at 
all adapted to other uses, could only be prepared at extra expense, are 
those nature occupies and renders of value. This growth comes of its 
own accord, so to speak, without preparation or labor by man, other 
than to guard against fires, along broken and often precipitous bluffs and 
ravines, in nooks and corners of tortuous and meandering streams in- 
cident to prairie regions. A belief is freely expressed that greater 
proportionate successful tree-growing, and at comparatively no expense, 
has been done by nature than by planting. As stated before, by a far 
