Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-06-02
Protection on the Farm.

THE winds are down upon us since the
woods have been cleared away. This
makes cold winters and windy summers;
hence dry summers, and winters in which
not only stock suffers, but vegetation also.
The wheat crop is affected the grass bad
ly; fruit trees the same. These things
have been tested. Even row of ever
green's Of few years growth has been
found TO be prott otion and this not one
year, but every year, and more and more
according TO the amount of growth. How
comfortable we used TO be when we were
ensconced in the cleariugs, when the wood
all around was safeguard Then the
winter grain was green and was protected.
| Now it has to suffer from the full drift of
the wind, and the spring tells what this
means--the grain heaved, nothing green
seen. What remains receives a check
from the late sew rity) from which it will
not fully recover. Hence the wheat isnot so
healthy and so plump as formerly. A hurt
| grain, like hurt man, will show 1t.
How our seeding suffers where these
winds drift, but secure by shelter, whether
it be wood, hill, snow, or artificial treat
ment with trees Even straw, covering a
field, is great help. Yearly this should
| be done in our wheat, as is the case in
some parts of the country.
We should therefore consider locality
when we project crop. A hill or wood
will favor winter wheat; straw will do
the thing even more successfully, If plen-
tifully and closely applied. Besides, it
forms manure, But we can plant rows of
trees. Will they not be an ornam mt also
They will warm the farm generally, and
make IL more comfortable-and shall we
not call that anythingY Some would not
mere drudges. Let these suffer. II is
cheap to plant trees; we can get them
from the wood or nursery. Do something
of this yearly for few years, and there
will be something of the old comfort and
benefit re-established and increasing each
year.
Another thing which is perhaps OF the
most importance of all--letting the after.
math remain. However large this may be-
leave it as protection, which it will be to
great extent 1t is almost impossible fol
the frost to penetrate deep rich mat of
this growth and the roots that sustain it
OF course the nutritive property of such q
growth is also a great inducement, ma.
nure already spread, and better spread and
better manure than can be otherwise ap
piled, reproduction of the plant And
this manurial property itself helps warm
the soil its decomposition is slowly go
ing on, evolving heat We need not be
discouraged in view of the woods being
cleared away. Our buildings we can en-.
circle with trees in few seasons, including
the barns, thus warming the stables, and
enabling the stock to be out during the
day in winter. 1t is remarkable how rap
idly trees will grow thus set out arounC
our buildings. In few years there will
be protection could we but persuade the
people of the full force of this truth w
have experience it most happily ourselves
that by getting our trees quite large frou
the woods, at such times when we woull
not have done much otherwise, for earll
spring or late fall is the time to do this
ours was done early in the spring; ou
success was in the many roots and soil w
left on, thus increasing the labor, but Sc
, curing the work not a tree failed. TIL
{ secret is, many roots, few limbs and mois
ture of the roots. This the soil brough
, with the roots will do best, though othe
richer ground may be added. And whel
once the buildings are protected, it will
not be long before the farm at large viii
have the benefit. The frost is hurting u
sorely these late years-more so than W
f are aware Of Those who have tested tn
J matter know. Our fruit trees are tende
vines. and the flowers that we trust to tn
winter, these are affected, and seriously
when the frost is severe and variabl,
+. This matter must be urged, as it is impol
! tant. We have not hit upon all that serve
, as protection, but have only mentione
, some OF the means that are known b
, practice to be good.-C0r. Country Gent,
1llun