The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-05-12
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Protecting Orchards.

As general rule, fruits succeed better
in wooded country, when new and par
TALLY cleared, than elsewhere or ever af
terward. This is probably owing to sew
eral different causes; but the principal
ones are scarcity of noxious insects, rich
fness of soil, and the protection received
rom the remaining forests. Without
wishing to depreciate the value of forests
as protection to orchards and gardens,
still we cannot agree with some writer's
who have of late endeavOred to show that
they are the one thing needful to make
our orchards once more productive, and
cause the fruit to grow without spot or
blemish. Even If, by restoring one-halt
of the original forests, this could be eff
fected, it would still be doubtful policy,
inasmucn as the gain in one product must
necessarily cause corresponding loss in
another
In many sections of the Eastern States,
there is as much land devoted to wood as
is required to make the climate healthy and
leave a sufficient area for cultivation. In
prairie countries, there is doubtless an ac-
tual deficiency Of forests, and a certain
amount would be highly beneficial.
We fear, however, that many persons
believe that a narrow belt of trees will
answer the same purpose as large forest.
But this is an error for the most that can
be expected of a few trees is to break the
force of the winds, while the large for
ests give out great amount of heat dur
ing the coolest weather, and sensibly af-
feet the temperature of the air for miles
around.
Now, we are ready to concede that
every tree (and evergreens in PARTICULAR
that is planted about a place gives out a
| certain amount of heat during the winter
and thereby contributes toward elevating
the temperature of the surrounding at
mosphcre. But the question arises " Can
we add enough to be of any practical
values"
In high, open situations, where the
wind has full sweep, we believe protec
ton to be highly beneficial, inasmuch as
it breaks the force of the wind, but does
not entirely prevent free circulation
Every orchardist is aware that late frosts
seldom occur when there is considerable
motion to the atmosphere; and we fire
quently hear the remark: off the wine
keeps up we will have no frost to night
but if it goes down look out for freeze
And for this reason protection in local.
ties where late spring frOsts are common
| Is usually more injurious tnan beneficial
Then, again, trees that are protected
usually come forward more rapidly il
spring than those that are unprotected
consequently are just in the proper condi
ton to be severely injured.
We believe that in many localities
protection would be beneficial to our Or
chards; but every man who attempts t.
erect one should study the climate first
and decide whether it will be 3 benefit o
injury before the first tree is planted.
Evcrgreens are preferable to deciduous
inasmuch as they afford shelter at a tim
when most needed. No general rule Ca
be given that would be safe guide in a
localities; for prevailing and injuriou
storms come from different points in differ
ent portions of the country, and the in
habitants in each are the best judges {
their own wants and needs-Hearth an
Home.