Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1869 [PAGE 373]

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359 speaker in regard to the time of planting. I gather them in the fall of the year and plant immediately. I strike off furrows with the plow, and plant them without taking the hull off, and the work is done. I do not see anything gained in laying the nuts away in the cellar and planting next spring. Mr. GALUSHA—The only gain that 1 see is to have the ground in readiness to grow other crops between. We get a more even stand planted in the spring. Mr. FREEMAN—It is well known that the nuts require frost and moisture in order to force them open. By the speaker's plan you can get a better stand, especially if you assort the nuts. By this means you get a more uniform stand in your plantation. Mr. MINEK—I still think my plan has some advantage. In the fall the ground is dry, and we have more leisure to do the work. In the spring the ground is wet, and is not in so good a condition as in the fall. I have no trouble to know when my walnut trees are in the row. Here in Illinois (take my own case) we have a great deal to do, and if this work is not done in the fall it will in all probability be neglected. If I were going to plant more trees, as I probably shall, I would plant in the fall. I now have planted and growing groves of cottonwood, walnut, sycamore, wild cherry, maple, the sugar tree, osage orange, and some crab apple. I am an advocate of tree planting. Mr. KOBINSON—I wish to ask what is the value of the European Larch as to durability ? Mr. GALTJSHA—So far as we know it we have everything in its favor as to its durability. This tree and the white willow stand at the head in this respect, and greater profits are realized from growing groves of the European Larch than any tree next to the white willow. I would ask if the gentleman has had any experience in growing the soft maple, and whether his trees are troubled with the borer ? Mr. MINER—IJhave never been troubled with the borer in my maples. I have the trees three years old. My black locusts are destroyed entirely. Dr. WARDER—How soon are yourjocust trees attacked by the borer ? Mr. MINER—At two or three years old. I planted them fourteen years ago.