FOREST PLANTING IN THE NORTH PLATTE AND SOUTH PLATTE 



VALLEYS. 



INTRODUCTION. 



There is very little natural tree growth in the North Platte and 

 South Platte valleys. That which does exist is confined entireh^ to the 

 water courses. A small amount of tree planting has already been done 

 in both valleys, but often a poor choice of species or lack of care after 

 trees were set out brought failure. With the further development of 

 this region through extensive irrigation an increased amount of plant- 

 ing will be undertaken hj the settlers. The purpose of this report is 

 to furnish information to prospective forest planters upon the trees 

 best adapted to the region and the proper methods of growing them. 



THE REGION. 



The region herein discussed includes all lands now under irrigation or 

 ultimateh' to be reclaimed in the North Platte Valley from Guernse}^, 

 Wyo., to North Platte, Nebr., together with the irrigable portions of 

 the South Platte Valley from North Platte, Nebr., to the limits of the 

 irrigated lands a few miles south of Denver, and the territorj^ adjacent 

 to the South Platte River and watered by its tributaries, such as the 

 Cache la Poudre River and Big Thompson, Little Thompson, Clear, 

 and Cherry creeks. 



TOPOGRAPHY. 



There are two well-defined classes of land within the region — the 

 valley land of the river bottoms, and the upland which borders them 

 on each side. 



The upland comprises the bulk of the area, and for the most part 

 forms a plateau or table-land, though in the western portion of the 

 South Platte region it becomes a gently rolling prairie. 



SOIL. 



Several types of soil occur. These are loam, sandy loam, sand, and 

 gravelly loam. 



Sandy loam is the prevailing type in both valleys. It is usually 

 from 1 to 6 feet in depth, but in the river bottoms may be much 

 deeper. The usual subsoil is sand, though in places it is gravel or a 

 gravelly clay. 



[Cir. 109] 



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