20 



right, for it is desirable to utilize completely or reclaim such waste 

 portions. The owner frequently can not afford to plant any other 

 part of the farm, for the better portions are necessary for its proper 

 management. Good returns may be obtained by reforesting these 

 rough lands, and caring for the plantations to keep out dense growths 

 of weeds, shrubs, and scraggly trees. Large ranches and farms, 

 however, can profitably devote several acres of good, rich land to 

 trees for posts and farm repair material. There is no reason why 

 large farms should not grow more than enough posts for their own 

 fencing. But even on the best soils, unless the trees are carefully 

 planted and protected, they will yield only a very small part of their 

 possible returns. 



Species. — Where a considerable area is to be devoted to the pro- 

 duction of posts, the best species to use are: Osage orange, which, 

 however, is hardy in the southern half of the State only, hardy 

 catalpa, European larch, honey locust, and green ash. Where very 

 quick results are desired, wiilov/ may be successfully grown, but even 

 the best quality of seasoned willow posts will not last more than 

 from three to five years. Other slower-growing species make excel- 

 lent posts, and it would be well to devote a small portion of the area 

 to black walnut, coffeetree, white ash, slippery elm, red oak, Russian 

 olive, and Russian mulberry. 



On bottomlands subject to overflow, and which are consequently 

 not adapted to tillage, cottonwood and silver maple may be planted 

 in groves for lumber. Excellent returns in lumber and dimension 

 material have been obtained from plantations of these species. On 

 dry soils cottonwood groves do not succeed. 



Planting. — Where Osage orange, hardy catalpa, Russian rnul- 

 berry, or honey locust are planted on the heavy, rich loess soils of 

 the State for the production of posts, they should be spaced 4 by 6 

 or 6 by 6 feet, or if planted with a field crop like corn, they should be 

 planted 8 by 8 feet each way. Such spacing will cause the young 

 trees to make a rapid height growth, vv^hich is necessary for the pro- 

 duction of the greatest number of good fence posts. On light sandy 

 soil, the trees should be set at a greater distance apart, since there 

 is not sufficient moisture to permit close planting. 



Seedlings of hardy catalpa, Osage orange, and honey locust have 

 been successfully planted with corn in this State. A field is planted 

 to corn in the usual way, and just as it is breaking through the ground 

 a seedling is set in every other hill of every other row, in place of the 

 corn. Two-thirds of the crop of corn is obtained in this way and 

 the seedlings receive thorough cultivation and are protected by the 

 stalks during the first year. Corn may also be planted the second 

 year and a third of a crop obtained. In this way sufficient corn 



[Cir. 154] 



