The Cairo bulletin., 1904-08-05
FORESTRY IN ILLINOIS
The Great Advantage Of SheIterbelts
and Woodlots to Farmers In a
Prairie Country.

The bureau OF forestry will this
summer pursue in Illinois study
from which it is expected material adj.
vantage viii insure to the vast agri.
Planted timber will be made the sub
ject of careful examination TO deter.
mine what kinds of trees make the
most rapid growth, and are most val
liable commercially and for use as
windbreaks. under the prevailing con
| ditions of soil, moisture and cuitiva.
ton The topography of Illinois is
such that forest cover is not usually
needed to protect the soil from ero-
sion. The land for the most part is
rolling or level prairie. rich and ad
mirably suited for agriculture. A
farmer reaping large haryests from
his lands naturally will not consider
putting those lands to less profit
able use. But experiments have prov
cd that shelterbelts, in protecting the
lands from wind. influence larger
crop yield.
Shelterbelts are in valuable In pro
tecting crops from the damage fire..
quantly resulting from the fun force
Of destructive winds, but possibly
their chief value is in conserving the
moisture SO absolutely essential tc
crop growth Wind is a strong ally OF
evaporation. 1t is established that as
the velocity of the wind increases 4
evaporation is very rapidly augment
cd. Shelterbelts. in opposing the wind
effectively retard evaporation, and
thereby save to growing crops the
soil moisture necessary 10 keep them |
thrifty during dry. windy times, /
These facts are especially pertinent /
in a treeless. level agricultural coun |
try, where the wind has an unoh |
structed sweep for miles and gets !
drier in its course, The |
strips Of land that farmers in Illinois
might divert from agriculture, in cre \
ating shelterbelts, would be put to
better use than If continued in crops,
because the remainder OF the land
would be so much benefited by the
change Nor is projection from the
effects of wind the only advantage
that would be secured from the ere
alton of shelterbelts. Ii composed OF
suitable kinds Of trees. shelterbeits
AN be made to answer the purpose Of
poodlots. furnishing all the
uel fence posts. and farm repair ma
erial the farmer may need. The two
lses viii admirably go hand and
rand, and between them will mate
tally improve the value Of the land
md the comfort Of the farmer
TO promote this end the bureau OF
'or-stry las assigned to Illinois for
his summer field party OF FIVE ex-
,erts, under the supervision of Mr.
r. 5. Kellogg. They will study both
iauve and planted trees 10 gain full
of the rate of growth :
nd productive powers of the trees
ghich are the most valuable for the
tate. Data will be collected relative
0 the cost and methods Of planting
nd the time required to grow tim
er 70 the size required for useful
ess. When the study is completely
full report on the subject will be
ublished. e
All owners of woodlots or groves in
Ilinois who wish to bring them TO
heir highest value and all who are
lterested in the important subiec,
T tree planting for shelterbelts or
-oodlots will confer favor Fpon the :
ureau of forestry by communicating !,
ith Mr. Kellogg. whose address for
le summer is Roundnouse, I'll. By
Ding this they win facilitate the DIS
1yery ard inspection Of a greater :
umber Of groves, and viii them :
Elves receive from the field force !
lluable suggestions on the manage =
.ent OF their planted timber The r
lreau viii greatly appreciate the
Hest cooperation on the part Of :
ndowners in the practical work up