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The Lucknow Sentinel, 1993-03-17, Page 22Page 6 -Farm Progress '93 R 400 GEItE S P Andrew Dixon, a retired school teacher is unique tn his field by Ron Wassink CHESLEY—Andrew Dixon is growing trees with a difference. The retired Ailsa Craig school teacher knows he's unique when it comes to growing trees and it's an idea that has gained considerable interest. Dixon told about 200 people at "A Day in the Woodiot", the last session of Grey -Bruce Farmers' Week in Chesley recently how he's treating trees like any ,other farm cash crop. "In 19.77 I decided to put into practice a concept I had for quite a while." Dixon's concept was to plant trees at a wide spacing, prune the bottom branches as the trees grew in order to grow trees with veneer quality logs. Or, knotle.ss ‘VOtid; ' And he says he's convinced tree growing, his way, is one of "the best propositions to be seen today." In order to make his scheme work, Dixon said he had to grow trees to maturity faster. Secondly, One of the largest agricultural equipment collections in North America Is housed at the Ontario Agricultural Museum. You can see items such as this hay loader, circa 1917. everyc, tree had to -grow a good quality veneer log. And. thirdly, as he would not see a return on his investment for a long time, he could not afford to invest a lot of capital in the project. For trees to grow fast, he said you have to give them the space to do it. He planted black walnut trees 40 feet apart. And in between them, he grew other crops, like corn, wheat and oats. He warned, though, to choose species for the soil conditions on the farm. His arc ori prime farmland. Dixon started with 343 trees in 1977. Today he has 2,257 trees on 50 acres. Of that, 1,192 are walnut, which take up 43 acres. He, also planted white pine at 15 -foot spacing, Cottonwood and Juniper (red cedar), and a couple of other species. I am just sharing a dream. It has cost nobody anything, and it promises big results." ' • To prove his 'point, Dixon said he sold his first pruned, black waln.ut tree last year for $1,500. That tree was planted in 1922. "It was worth that because I pruned it (in '1936)." . As • for his 1977 crop, Dixon figures the walnut trees he's planted will be worth S1.8 million when harvested. Or, S600 per acre per year when .averaged back over the •years. • . • • "Try growing corn for that!": Plus, he's got the nuts; which, at 1,000 trees, are worth • 512,000 annually... Andrew Dixon, of Alisa Craig, treats trees like any other farm Dixon predicted his 480, knot -free cash crop. Mr. Dixon was a speaker at the Grey -Bruce Farmers' white pine' will bring $48,000. Or, Week. (Rob Wassink photo) •turn to page 8 APPLE Auto Gins -Windshields .-Flat Glass (eg. Tractor Cabs) -Upholstery (eg. 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He planted black walnut trees 40 feet apart. And in between them, he grew other crops, like corn, wheat and oats. He warned, though, to choose species for the soil conditions on the farm. His arc ori prime farmland. Dixon started with 343 trees in 1977. Today he has 2,257 trees on 50 acres. Of that, 1,192 are walnut, which take up 43 acres. He, also planted white pine at 15 -foot spacing, Cottonwood and Juniper (red cedar), and a couple of other species. I am just sharing a dream. It has cost nobody anything, and it promises big results." ' • To prove his 'point, Dixon said he sold his first pruned, black waln.ut tree last year for $1,500. That tree was planted in 1922. "It was worth that because I pruned it (in '1936)." . As • for his 1977 crop, Dixon figures the walnut trees he's planted will be worth S1.8 million when harvested. Or, S600 per acre per year when .averaged back over the •years. • . • • "Try growing corn for that!": Plus, he's got the nuts; which, at 1,000 trees, are worth • 512,000 annually... Andrew Dixon, of Alisa Craig, treats trees like any other farm Dixon predicted his 480, knot -free cash crop. Mr. Dixon was a speaker at the Grey -Bruce Farmers' white pine' will bring $48,000. Or, Week. (Rob Wassink photo) •turn to page 8 APPLE Auto Gins -Windshields .-Flat Glass (eg. Tractor Cabs) -Upholstery (eg. Tractor Cabs) -Truck and Van Accessories -Stone Repair -Water Leak Repair -Sunroofs 1 0° Off All, Truck Accessories With This Ad -Sliding Back Glass/ •Runningiloarcts •Bug Deflectors. •Box Liners 211 Bayfield Road Goderich, Ont. N7A 3G3 Mobile Service at No Extra Cost Tel. 524-5388 ' 1-800-567-1613 11-2