Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-02-05

knowing full we'll that we cannot
change the general features of eli
mate. The records of the past, show
ing great variability and wide range
of extremes, give us prophetic warm
ings as to future conditions.
The Natural Orchard.
1t appears to me that there is a
lack of sense and science in planting
a farm orchard, with the usual varie-
ties of tender and nardy fruits. on an
elevated site, exposed to all the winds
that blow. That certainly is not nat
ure's method in planting and caring
for even the most wild and hardy of
the native varieties. In their native
state apple trees were found in the
friendly environment of groves, or
budding together on the leeward side
of slopes to escape the severity of
damaging winds. The way to pro-
tect tree Is to plant great many
other trees. Only an extremely har-
dy tree of any species can withstand
the null force of our prairie winds.
The heaviest loss suffered in apple or
chards in Iowa is from the effects of
hot southwest winds, and the severe
wind squalls that sweep down from
the west and northwest A very large
percentage of apples grown this year
were blown from the trees before ma.
turity.
To Neutralize Hot Winds.
One of the most difficult problems
is how to protect fruits and field
crops in seasons when hot winds pre-
vail for many days, and possibly
weeks. But by the study of the situa-
tion you will observe that the extent
Of damage depends upon the location
and exposure to the full effects of the
scorching blasts from the southwest
A stubble field, or closely cropped
and dried up pasture, situated at the
windward side of a cornfield or or
chard, will add very greatly to the
deadly effects of winds that blow thir.
ty miles an hour when the tempera-
ture is among the upper nineties and
the relative humidity of the air is very
| low The fact should be noted that
hot winds are local productions; that
| is to say, the scorching and deadly eff
fects are due mainly to the number
and extent of radiators that maintain
| the Ugh temperatures. Stubble fields
bare pastures, stretches Of bare OF
sandylands, ETC., are the radiators thai
do the damage. We are not afflicted
/ by hot winds of the deadly type wheT
meadows, pastures and grainfields are
covered by green and luxuriant crops
of grass and grain.
: Cannot Change the Climate.
We are as yet in the experimental
stages of our horticulture and agri
culture in this section In due time
i we will have produced varieties o
! fruits, grains and vegetables that arr
thoroly acclimated and hardy enough
to Withstand all the extremes of eli
mate. We cannot change the climatt
or increase or decrease the rainfall
but we may hedge against advers,
conditions and achieve fair success il
even the worst seasons ever known.
Help in Forestry.
/ am satisfied that in this line o
/ judicious and scientific forestry tn
4 best work of the future is to be done
The treeless farm will be rare thin;
in Iowa before the middle of the com
ing century. With fully one-fourth o
one-third of our entire area in timbe
belts, groves and orchards, the ba
ance of the land will produce large
crops in all seasons and the condition
will be more comfortable for the happ
and prosperous people who abide il
this most productive state.