Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1899-05-26

ih6 HE homc I'D cApooeu duu Chcci
less as on some open prairie. On the
other hand, no one feels the need Of or
appreciates their value better than the
prairie resident. Without their modi-
flying and congenial influences success
with fruits would be an impossibility
The benefits derived therefrom largely
depend on its position and the method
Of planting. The prime object Of a
shelter belt Is for the protection and
comfort 1t affords; and in setting one
out there are two essentials that
should not be overlooked. First, the
trees must not be placed close enough
to buildings or paths so drifting snow
from them will cause Inconvenience.
Second, choose varieties that will do
we'll in that section and do not use
| short lived trees entirely.
Those trees that can be readily
grown from cuttings are more COM
monty seen in tree paintings as pion-
eer trees, and some Of them are very
desirable, The cottonwood makes a
very good tree In places. but, like the
Lombardy poplar, reaches maturity in
short time unless in favorable soil
or where its roots can reach perma-
nent moisture. The white willow Is
one Of the most satisfactory and Is
more commonly used for this purpose
than any other tree. The golden will
low as far as tried seems very salts
factory, and owing to its bright colored
bark makes it more attractive. The
most practical plan in vogue at pres
ent for a shelter belt consists Of plant
| ing an outside row of willows (green
| ash or elm is also desirable, but OF
| slower GROWTH. A space of three or
| four rods should be left between that
and the next or inner row, to hold the
| drifting snow. The second set may
| be a single row or more, as desired, of
| the same kind of trees, or quite accept
ably of such hardy evergreens as white
spruce or Scotch pine. Within this
| enclosure as soon as our wind break
shall have attained some size we can
| safely plant such hardy ornamental
| and fruit trees as desired White birch
| will be found to contrast very nicely
with evergreens. Very few farms have
| any nut trees on them. The walnut,
butternut and hickory can easily be
grown in most parts Of the state and
will be found remunerative as we'll as
| adding to the attractiveness OF the
farm and home.
In the selection of the varieties OF
fruits we would again urge the neces-
sity Of planting only the hardest
standard sorts-leave the novelties Tor
someone else. 1t will be found more
economical as we'll as convenient to
plant everything in long, straight
rows, running them north and south
preferably. BY planting the apple and
plum thus, currants, gooseberries, SAND
cherries and quick growing varieties OF
| the raspberry may be grown in the
same row between the trees without
| injury to either, trees being set ABOUT
| twelve feet apart in the row and rows
| two rods or more apart Planted In this
manner the plots between can be USED
| constantly and conveniently for cuiti-
waited crops; and if the rows OF trees
and berries are mulched there will be
a great saving of labor during the busy
season and they will do better for 1t.
| That we can and do raise fruit in all
parts of the state was proven beyond
a doubt to any person Interested IN
| the subject enough to visit the horti-
cultural building at the last state fair.
under the roof of which was arrayed
display which any fruit producing
state might we'll have taken pride in.
All of our successful horticulturists are
located in timber sections or have sur
rounded themselves with shelter BELTS
recognizing the dependence OF the one
| upon the other. With the rapid clear
| ing and settling up of the land IN the
east there has been notable decline IN
| the fruit industry, and the New Eng
land states, New York and Ohio, no
! more boast of their unfailing crops OF
apples. which with them are no surer
| crop at present and not as good in ap-
! pearance or quality as our own. Wnile
a quarter of a century ago a failure Oh
the fruit crop was an unknown tnlnS
to them Conclusively, he is depend
ent upon forestry not only for MS fuel
and lumber, but also the influence 1t
exerts in checking the force of those
piercing Arctic blasts as we'll as modl-
fying the intensity Of the scorchins
winds that sweep upon US from across
that section known as the American
desert. Besides the protection 1t at
fords to the tenderer forms OF plant
life. to man and beast, more favorable
climatic and crop conditions prevail
And last but not least it lends beauty
to the landscape and home, wherein
the greatest OF our ciYil!z!ng inhu-
erces lie. ~. e.,,p,Nr,
Sec'y MINI. Forestry Association.