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become the practice to first plant a shrub of little or no value—a low 
willow (Salix pruinosa)—as a first soil cover or undergrowth into which 
the desirable forest trees are planted afterwards. As this can be done 
only by hand labor, itis not a suitable practice for our conditions. We 
might use the common bullberry (Shepherdia argentea) for such an 
undershrub, or the sand plum, which | know has done good service as 
undergrowth. But we have in the box elder, or Russian mulberry, or 
Osage orange (objectionable on account of thorns) sufficiently hardy 
and shady kinds, and not entirely devoid of value for their wood, that 
can be used for the purpose. Of these not less than 6,000 to 8,000 plants 
should be set to the acre, making rows 3 feet apart and 2 feet in the 
row; even 10,000 would not be too many, for rapid shading of the 
ground from the influence of the sun and wind is the key to suecess. 
Any more valuable timber that is to be planted must be as fast a 
grower as or faster than the underwood and can be introduced at the 
same time, setting the plants’ in the same rows at the ratio of not 
more than 200 to 300, or every 12 to 15 feet, alternating in the rows. 
For this planting the very best rooted stock should be chosen: Black 
locust, honey locust, catalpa, and the oaks, and special care taken in 
planting it. In deeper, specially favorable situations, the black wal- 
nut would answer for this selection. The black cherry also promises 
to be a most valuable addition. Of course a great many variations 
may be suggested. 
CONIFERS. 
Of all trees, the most suitable for prairie planting and for planting 
in the dry plains are beyond doubt the conifers, and especially the 
pines. 
There are two reasons why they should be chosen preferably to others. 
First of all, they furnish not only a denser cover, lateral and vertical, 
but a cover all the year around, being evergreen. Secondly, they re- 
quire less water, from one-sixth to one-tenth of what most deciduous trees 
transpire, and are, therefore, less liable to succumb to drought. In 
winter they will hold the snow more efficiently than the naked, leafless 
kind, thus preserving the moisture on the ground. 
Nature has given us indications in that direction. The driest soils 
everywhere are occupied by the pines, and the arid slopes of the Rocky 
Mountains and the interior basin support only conifers, especially 
pines and juniper. From Professor Bessey I learned only to-day that 
my theory regarding the former forest cover of the plains is borne out 
by the discovery of pine forests buried in the sand hills of northern | 
Nebraska, and that he found the same kind of pine naturally growing 
jn eastern Nebraska, which covers the Black Hills and Rocky Moun- 
tain slopes, namely, the bull pine (Pinus ponderosa). 
I am also assured that in artificial plantings, after the pines are once 
established, they rarely succumb to the severities of climate in Ne- 
braska; and I have certainly seen young seedlings of the bull pine thrive 
