FORESTRY OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 13 
not to the extent desirable. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé Rail- 
road Company in Kansas some years ago employed a forester, but after- 
wards, probably believing that the experience of private parties had 
fully demonstrated the tact that trees would grow to the extreme west- 
ern limits of Kansas, abandoned the experiment. The following state- 
ment is instructive in this connection: Under date of October 18, 1882, 
Mr. C. H. Longstreth, late forester of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa 
Fé Railroad Company, speaking of the efforts of that corporation to 
grow trees on the great plains, after it had been a question of great 
doubt whether trees could be grown there at all, states that, in connee- 
tion with S. T. Kelsey, in 1873, he commenced tree-planting at Hutchin- 
son, Kans., working from there westward. He says: | 
The object of our work was to settle this question and learn as far as possible what 
kinds of trees were best adapted to this part of the State for forest purposes. We 
did not do much until the spring of 1874, when we did considerable in the way of 
planting seeds and cuttings, most of which grew and promised well. In February, 
1875, Mr. Kelsey left the work, after which I continued the planting and growing of 
trees until 1879, when, having the grounds all filled out and trees in such shape as to 
require but little care thereaftor, the railroad company concluded best to discontinue 
the work and not plant any further. 
Since 1879 the trees have had no work expended on them whatever. Below, I give 
notes of growth and number of trees now growing, which I took a few days since: 
’ First point, Hutchinson, is 180 miles west of the east line of the State; elevation, 
1,500 feet; soil, light, sandy loam. Here are now growing— 
No. of trees. 
LEE Scien EO. oe rd A eR a 1, 000 
Box-elder (ash-leaved maple), 15 to 20 feet high..---..-.....--.-- te ety 8, 000 
eS ee) orb ne a baseece 2, 500 
(PS Pid, CRT) ADGA er 3, 600 
eae raPeRUH ge Ae OECD ROLE RE SS ns ow wlan wleloais ae an cigs siete 1, 200 
SPMMIAS te MRAnERY CMM ERI IP MAP re ne ae 5 2 2 oc. Ss eels wei se bec bese o242 2, 000 
Oye vos Ps dtesine tien ees ocd le A SE are ne ee 200 
Honey locust, 15 to 25 feet high.-.-..-.- Se Ee Bs al ehh Ben ag Se 500 
Peay Wil oMMmamu eer Irie 2. 2. SSE ah SUS ee oll. Tease 500 
ESS To eG GS Deis oe eee ce 500 
arn e ah die SH Perret a SA SE los Ae Led ott sku e 1, 000 
(FRIAR RZ SOT Ta Pere pre): ee ee ea a ee re 3, 000 
Ellinwood, the next point, is 40 miles farther west; elevation, 1,750 feet; soil, a 
black, sandy loam, with a tenacious subsoil. Here are now growing— 
PORE U0 rey As Sig ee a ee 600 
RS RIS IT DUS i oP) ST) a Se ee 400 
eg, LEE YE USP 2 EG Te nS aR ol, 2 ne a _ 1,800 
Box-elder (ash-leaved maple), 15 to 18 feet high........-..........-.---.-.-- 500 
SEEREOEY CULIP OL OH 2 0 cls ee eee. oon SOR ee 2 es 300 
Peeeueetrre te tomo tee Bish o-oo See oes ohh sce oko Sue edhe cee 2, 000 
ennrnmrnseriaret cee iri. 4. eS ee gare oie io clccnd cageaa dasa send 2, 000 
nmr mncmaen ADOT BIE Ho 2 SL 2 ea oe se, eine whoa, 2b cess dence 1,500 
ear Te Aceh Niel. 3) hese wose we falcata aonn Seneca ecto. 4, 000 
Manne tet Leet) HINT 6. 25 2 oe eee Une ascder fans -ssc an ssc. 600 
Pi MME ORG RIG...) - 2. oo. sce aeeuate sooc sucd a<ea cde c-cd Gace 400 
PERRET UREEE Ey oo oa 2 Bd > nis pa eth ane ena Se ea eam mckiee beds 500 
