The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-12-13
The Farm.
Farmers, Gardners, Horticuiturists,
Dairy and Stochmen are requested to
Urite for this Department.
EYergreens for Shelter.

5N6fSF60u6 lOF On6lCer.
Though we have not here in the
Eastern States the same necessity for
trees as wind breakes that the treeless
plains Of the west have, yet their utility
here as shelter for stock, and especially
poultry, is not understood as it should
be. The broken nature of our land
scape, as a western man would term it,
serves purpose in obstrdcting the
continuous sweep of winds and thus
lessons their violence by retarding their
velocity. Onr native timber serves the
same purpose in leyel country, and
for this purpose timber belts are being
planted on many farms on the prairies,
as we'll as for their prospective value as
fuel or the many purposes for which it
is needed as fencing or building ma
terial. Railroads are planting to obvi-
ate the great obstruction and expense
caused by drifting snow, and to supply
crossties for their road bed.
Evergreens in this country have
heretofore been planted chiefly as or
nament, with no thought of their hav-
ing value for other purposes. The
cedar is known to be valuable and
durable timber, but it has not been so
scarce as to need special planting in
many places. AS shelter tree, it is
not equal to the Norway fir, and where
a dwarfer growth is desirable, the arbor
vitae is especially desirable The flat
leaves of this species hold the snow
more effectually than the needles of the
pine or the shap spiney foliage of the
cedar or juniper. I have never seen
the good qualities and purposes that
these dwarf evergreens can be made to
subserve fairly stated in priut, and was
not aware of them until 1 had planted
them extensively for other purposes
than to provide shade and shelter from
summer sun. ssand winter storm of rain
or snow. for my flock of chickens. Yet
here they are, in winter rather more
than in summer, under the lea of my
American arboryita hedge, and seem
well content to spend their leisure
hours there. No matter how heavy the
snow falls there is bare ground under
the evergreens, and when the sun
comes out again, it is the warmest spot
on the place. The leaves above make
wall sufficient to reflect the rays Of
the sun and thus collect and concentrate
them on the spot beneath on the south
side.
Grass starts sooner in all these places
and furnishes them green bite, but it
is the warmth and partial roof above
them thai, no doubt, attracts them to
these spots, even in preference to a
building where they have choice.
Partridges seek the shelter of nur-
sery grounds from the same cause when
SHOWS are deep. The asters that are
above the snow feed them, and then
they retire to the shelter of the low
arborvit@, where they are screened
from hawks. They do not roost in
trees, but on the ground from choice
Just try the experiment and plant a
hedge on the north side of your poultry
yard, and prove this point for your
selves. It will not cost as much as a
tight board fence, and will last longer,
and make roof as we'll. 1t emily needs
little trimming to be ornamental as
we'll as useful. Protect it from the
horns of unruly cows by low fence of
babed wire-they are the only enemy
it has-GEo. BALDERsToN in -Amer.
Farmer.