The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1881-12-08
EyERaREENs FOR PROTECTION.


dows and pictures.
EvERGREENS FOR PROTECTION.
MANY land owners who have q more
distinct appreciation of dollars and
cents than of the beauties of nature can
not see the propriety of occupying the
ground and labor in setting out orna-
mental trees. To such, as well as to
others, we wish to urge the Importance
of planting evergreen trees as shelter
against the cold winds of winter. We
once knew a country resident who
fianked his house on the sides of pre-
vailing winds with groups and masses
of evergreens from the neighboring for
csts and borders of swamps-and drew
upon himself, pretty freely, the jeers Of
his neighbors for setting out trees that
''bore nothing to eat,r and were "only
good to look at" In the course of
years, however, when these trees had
attained height of some twenty feet,
and afforded ample shelter from the
winds that swept across the bleak hill
occupied by his residence, the neigh
bors discovered that his place had be-
come decidedly more comfortable in
cold weaiher-also that many dollars in
firewood were annually saved by the
beautiful and efficient protection af-
forded. They began to see new charms
in ornamental trees, and were disposed
10 adopt what they had once ridiculed.
Those who have cattle and sheep yards
exposed to the keen prevailing blasts,
could they see the comfort which a
a screen of evergreens would impart,
would be ready to plant them on the
first opportunity. They are the cheap
est as well rs the most permanent and
durable kind of shelter that can be pro-
vided.
Screens placed along straight bound
aries may be in right lines like hedges.
But shelter in immediate proximity of
dwellings appears better if in scattered
trees, groups, and in scattered belts.
The straight screens may be made by
setting the trees three or four feet apart,
or at a greater dishonesty eight or
ten feet. In the former case the screen
the sooner becomes dense barrier
against the winds, but will not be SO
tall and stout ultimately. One of the
best trees for this purpose is the Nor
way spruce, which, if planted three feet
apart, will form a good and close shell
ter in five or six years, if well cultivated,
eight or ten feet high, while the tops of
the trees viii extend some feet higher.
If not cultivated, but allowed to grow
up with grass or in hard ground, ten or
twenty years will be required to attain
the same dimensions. If the trees are
placed six feet apart, they will in time
make an excellent screen, and cost less
at the start.
Many enormously suppose that if
they set out large trees they will attain
a given height the soonest very mis-
taken opinion, for large trees receive
the greatest check by removal, and they |
induce the planter TO believe that he
need not give good cultivation to his
plantation. Smaller trees well cultivat- |
ed will soon outstrip them, and present
at the same time handsomer and more |
thrifty appearance. A height of two
or three feet will, in most instances,
prove most profitable. At the present
time-in the depth of wherever
greens may be removed from the bor-
ders of woods and swamps, if the earth
is but slightly frozen. The protection
which the trees, as well as the coating
of fallen leaves, afford often nearly pre-
vents the moulding which covers the
soil from freezing, especially If snow
has fallen before intensely cold weather
sets in. in such localities, select small
trees only few feet high; cut a circle
with the spade about the roots SO as to
lift up cake or ball of soil; place the
trees in their natural position on sled
and draw them TO the place where they
are to be planted. AS general rule
the cake of soil should be so large as to
hold the tree upright without upsetting
wherever they are placed. No ever
green, however difficult the kind may
be to transplant successfully, will fail if
this amount of earth is carried with its
roots.
Trees from the nursery row cannot
be removed In winter without great Ia
Dor, and the work may be more readily
done in the spring, as they require the
removal of less earth on the roots-they
scarcely ever fail if the roots are imme-
diately immersed in mud as soon as
they are taken up, and before the moist
IRE on the surface of the roots has be-
come dry.
The wild growing trees for screens
are those which grow most rapidly,
provided they answer well in most re-
spects. The white (Weymouth) pine is
! fast grower, and is well suited for
mail groups and irregular screens,
when several kinds are intermixed
Nothing makes more beautiful straight
screen than the hsmlock-e either with or
without shearing; IL grows well in the
shade, and, as consequence, the inte-
rior of the hedge is full of dense foliage,
Instead of being hollow and bare with
in, as occurs with the srbor yit@ and
some others. This white cedar of New
York (American arbor yitG) grows
With considerable rapidity and makes q S
6ne screen but its surface should not
be closely and evenly sheared, ss this
tends to make the interior hollow, but
should be merely cut back irregularly
With the knife. But first and last, it
must not be forgotten that mellow cul-
Iiyation not only doubles, at least, tho
need OF growth, but makes finer and
more luxuriant looking trees.-C Country, s
RenfloRdN.