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HACKBERRY. 
The hackberry is one of the hardiest native trees, and deserves 
more extensive planting than has yet been given. Naturally it is 
often stunted and slow growing, but it does well under cultivation, 
grows with fair rapidity, and develops into good form. It resembles 
the elm in general habits, but is smaller and hardier. It is not very 
particular as to soil, and is not seriously injured by insects. 
Hackberry is best adapted to street and yard planting by its ap- 
pearance, good shade, and medium size. The merits of hackberry 
are known by many who have not the patience to wait for its slow 
growth, but the time has come for permanent planting, and it should 
have attention. Since few trees were found, no tabulated measure- 
ments are given. A fair average diameter increase is about one-third 
inch yearly for the valleys and one-fourth inch for the uplands. 
Columbus, Nebr., is one of the few towns that has given much atten- 
tion to hackberry. There it is the principal street tree, with excellent 
effect. 
COTTON WOOD. 
Cottonwood is the most extensively planted tree in the Middle 
West. It attains its best development in the wide, sandy valleys of 
the Platte and the Arkansas, where never-failing water is within 
5 to 20 feet of the surface, and the soil is easily penetrated by the 
thirsty roots. The cottonwood is closely related to the willows, and, 
like them, does not succeed well without abundant moisture. Had 
the early tree planters better realized its habits, they would not have 
planted the thousands they did upon the high uplands. The trees 
frequently grew well for a few years, and then succumbed to a sum- 
mer drought, leaving unsightly dead branches and crowns in testi- 
mony of the unequal struggle. Cottonwood can not be recommended 
for the uplands of western Kansas and Nebraska, except in favored 
localities that catch some run-off, but it will thrive to the extreme 
hmits of both States in sandhills or valleys which contain living 
streams during at least a portion of the year. It is often the only 
tree found growing naturally along sandy streams. 
Cottonwood is to be regarded generally as a temporary tree. It 
is not long-lived, and attains large size in a short time. It grows the 
most rapidly of any tree adapted to this region, and is therefore often 
selected for planting by those who do not have the patience to wait 
for the slower development of more valuable species. An inch in 
diameter and 5 feet in height is not an uncommon average for the 
first ten or more years after setting, in favorable situations, and this 
suggests its best use. Cottonwood furnishes fuel and shelter quickly, 
[Cir. 161.] 
