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NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS FIELD STATION, 1913-1922 Z 
ARBORICULTURAL INVESTIGATIONS 
The absence of trees on the farm lands of the Great Plains region is 
a factor of importance to the farmer in his effort to establish a com- 
fortable and attractive home. Belts of trees not only improve the 
living conditions for the farmer and his family, but afford valuable 
protection to barns, yards, orchards, and gardens. 
The severe climatic conditions, especially the limited rainfall and 
periods of drought, present difficulties to the tree planter that are 
unknown in the more favorable farming sections of the United States. 
A large number of the attempts to grow trees have been unsuccessful, 
and this fact has given rise to a widespread impression that tree 
planting in this region is not practicable. Investigation has shown 
that most of the failures were probably due to the use of species not 
adapted to the climatic conditions, to the lack of careful preparation 
of the soil before planting, and to neglect of cultivation after planting. 
Experimental work in testing tree species at the station was started 
in 1914, and cooperative demonstrations with farmers at different 
points in the plains region in 1916. Both of these lmes of work are 
still being carried on. 
The following is an outline of the work now being conducted: 
Experimental test plantings— 
Species testing blocks. 
Shelter-belt combination tests. 
Pruning, spacing, and methods of cultivation tests. 
Cooperative shelter-belt demonstrations— 
Propagation of planting stock. 
Distribution of trees. 
Data from established shelter belts. 
EXPERIMENTAL TEST PLANTINGS 
SPECIES TESTING BLOCKS 
Blocks of uniform size, containing in most cases 100 trees each, 
have been planted in pure stand with such species as give promise 
of being adapted to use in the Great Plains region. These blocks are 
intended to serve principally as tests of hardiness. 
Table 5 shows the species that were in the testing blocks in 1922 
and the year they were planted. 
TasLe 5.—Year of planting species of trees and varieties alive in 1922 in the testing 
blocks at the Northern Great Plains Field Station 
| Block | Year 
seed | 
Scientific name Common name | No. | planted 
| 
| 
BePNUO AS AINCA. set a IBalsamnetinte ee eee eo | 22 | 1922 
PMMESCOMCOIOIN ere n Sas tek Dito Wihite pipes soe ee eee e | 29 | 1922 
i OBP GEV Ce SE SS i sane een ee ee ee Ginna ap lek ase as ees eae | 118 | 1915 
FP DET | eS oe a a ee ee IBOxeld era enia ese ae et ae | 111 | 1915 
Sy 5.0110) (UZ YTUO) CG Cet a NOT Wayalaples essen ss eesa See | 42} 1922 
Supe CHIAIITINT Tg or oe 8 ce Zcilveriomsolt maple == 252. 2+ == 2-2. | 102 | 1915 
Be ormUALMRICUIN = t= 2 Le Ratanantmaple: = 25 oss 62 ois a8 110 | 1915 
munclanchiereanadensis... _-2..-..---------2_2__ June berry, or shadblow -_------------ 112} 1916 
DLs ELLIS a 2 ee ee nee a bee | European white birch--.----.-----.-- 94 1916 
Bolin apyiilerac= fe 622 oo Cancepbinch ies: Seve a) 2 ee eee 95 | 1916 
EMMA mOMuNOlas 2 2 Grayebinchermens aman ua see | 77 | 1915 
“2 SINE, SUC PS sh a cll dcermbinchse tes seem se SES 44 | 1917 
Carazana-arberestens.--__-_.._...-..__.._..__.- Siberian peattree 2220). eh ty | 86 | 1915 
DRASTIC CHIOR PAIS oS aoe iseacknenky eee eae een eo re! 81 | 1916 
