Home › Outdoor Problems of the Householder › Outdoor Problems of the Householder: Franklin

Outdoor Problems of the Householder: Franklin

Light the fuse and retreat to a safe distance. Should the stump be located near buildings or greenhouses, the danger of breaking window glass may be lessened by covering it with earth in cloth bags or throwing over it a number of logs chained together surmounted by pieces of heavy can- Showing dynamite cartridge in position. (Franklin Williams, Jr.) vas or an old horse blanket. Or a dynamite cartridge may be exploded against the side of a stump, without boring, in a hollow dug in the earth.

The resulting fragments may then be readily dug up with the mattock.

To Pull Stumps. - There are numerous stump-pulling machines on the market and sometimes one can be hired to advantage to remove the few large stumps. But such machines as a rule are expensive to operate as compared with other methods. There Uprooting_sapling with horse_and chain. (Franklin Williams, Jr.) are three principal types of root development: the tap root, semi-tap root and root with lateral branches.

The first goes straight down into the ground without branching. The second forms branches just below the OUTDOOR PROBLEMS OF THE HOUSEHOLDER 279 surface which go somewhat deeply into the ground at various angles.

The third forms branches which extend parallel with the surface in all directions, but do not penetrate deeply. The best method of removing a stump depends, therefore, upon the character of its root system. The hickory, black gum and white oak have a typical tap root. The pines, papaw and chestnuts have semi-tap roots. The elm, soft maple, locust, dogwood and elder have lateral root systems.

The best way to clear the ground of small trees and young saplings is to pull them over with one or more horses or oxen by means of a long log chain fastened as high above the ground as the stiffness of the trunk will admit. The object is to secure as good leverage as possible.

A steady horse or team, or preferably a pair of oxen, is required. While the tree is bent forward with a with a steady pull, separate the roots on the opposite side with sharp axe. a This method can be used successfully to remove quite dogwood and elder have lateral root systems. or a re- Or to pull out the stumps of large trees having lateral or semi-tap root systems, with a team of horses or pair of oxen, first move the sod and loosen the earth about the principal roots. Then attach a log chain to one of the largest branch roots at some distance from the stump, carry the chain across the top of the stump and pull in a direction opposite to that in which the root extends. The object is to secure a leverage over the top of the stump. This leverage can be increased by means of two pieces of timber about six feet high bolted together in the form of the letter A or ordinary harrow. To the top of this is attached a chain or wire rope four or five feet long terminating in a hook. The A leans against one side of the stump and the hook is attached to a large root on the other side. The power is then applied slowly and steadily to the top of the A and, as this is raised up, the stump is tilted over.

Or to secure greater leverage when necessary, use two triple blocks and 200 or 300 feet of one-inch rope.

Anchor one block to a solid stump and the other to the stump it is desired to pull.

Or bore a hole in the center of a large stump in the fall with a 1-inch auger. Pour into it a half pound of vitriol and drive in a tight wooden plug. In the spring, the whole stump and roots will be found so thoroughly rotted that they can easily be dug or plowed up.

Or bore a hole 18 inches deep in the center of the stump in the fall.

Put in an ounce of saltpeter, fill up the hole with water and drive in a tight wooden plug. In the spring, pour in a half gill of kerosene and set it on fire. The whole stump will be burned out. But take care not to use this method in dry, mucky or peaty soil or in forests surrounded by dry leaves, else it may cause a disastrous forest fire.

Or to pull out brush and stumps, attach a log chain around the trunk or stem close to the ground and carry the chain up and over a grooved wheel, such as the wheel of an old corn planter and start the team.

The wheel gives a good leverage and , by turning, lessens friction.

The same device may be used to pull up fence posts.

To Remove Underbrush. ---- Use the mattock. Give this tool a sharp edge with a file and keep it in good working condition. of Pasturing. - Another means clearing tracts of new land is by pasturing with any kind of stock .

The angora goat is the best land clearer. And goats or sheep are always to be preferred. But horses and cattle, or even hogs, will assist in clearing land if confined to small tracts so as to be forced to obtain a considerable part of their food by browsing. All sprouts and green bushes which stock fail to subdue should be cut down with the axe or mattock in the late summer.

If time is not an object, trees of considerable size may be removed by natural forces. To use this method dig a trench around the base of the tree and cut all the lateral roots, leaving only the tap root, and await the action of wind and rain. The water which accumulates in the trenches softens the soil and causes it to be upheaved by frosts. The wind pressing against the top of the tree will then sway the trunk, in course of time, with sufficient force to throw it and thus pry the tap root completely out of the ground.

A few trees, notably the sassafras, persimmon and locust are very persistent.

The entire root system should be removed from the ground.

After all trees, saplings and underbrush have been removed and the stumps pulled, new ground may be completely subdued by fall plowing one way and cross plowing the following spring. Carry an axe attached to the handle-bars of the plow and sever every root which the plow cannot break through. New land should preferably be cultivated for a year or two before being laid down as a permanent lawn or other greensward. Good crops for new land perhaps are corn, tomatoes or potatoes.

Or the land may be sown to clover or other crops suitable for green manuring.