Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-08-11
TREES FOR sHELTERBELTs AND
WoopLoTs.
ADVANTAGES TO CROPS
Rows of Trees of Special Value in
Breaking the Force of Winds and
Thus Retarding Evaporation-New
Work by Bureau of Forestry-can
be Made to Furnish all Fuel.

Washington, d. c., Aug. 5.-The
bureau of forestry will this sumner
pursue in Illinois a study from which
it is expected material advantage will
inure to the vast agricultural Interests
of that state. Planted timber Will be
made the subject of careful exami-
nation to determine what kinds of
trees make the most rapid growth, and
are most valuable commercially and
for use as wind-breaks, under the pre-
vailing conditions of soil, moisture,
and cultivation. The topography of
Illinois is such that a forest cover is
not usually needed to protect the soil
from erosion. The land for the most
part is rolling or level prairie, rich and
admirably suited for agriculture. A
former reapilg large harvests from
his lands naturally will not consider
putting those lands to less profitable
use. But experiments have proved
that shelterbelts, IN protecting the
lands from wind, influence a larger
crop yield.
Shelterbelts are invaluable in pro-
tecting crops from the damage fire.
quently resulting from the full force
of destructive winds. but possibly their
chief value is in conserving the moist
ure so absolutely essential to crop
growth. Wind is strong ally of
evaporation. 1t is established that
as the velocity of the wind increases
evaporation is very rapidly augmented.
Shelterbelts. in opposing the wind. eff
fcctively retard evaporation, and there
by save to growing crops the soil
moisture necessary to keep them
thrifty during dry, windy times. These
facts are especially pertinent in tree
less, level agricultural country, where
the wind has an unobstructed sweep for
miles and gets constantly drier in its
course. The strips of land that farm
ers in Illinois might divert from agri-
culture. in creating shelterbelts, would
be put 10 better use than if continued
in crops, because the remainder of the
land would be so much benefited by
the change. Nor is protection from the
effects of wind the only advantage that
would be secured from the creation of
shelterbelts. If composed of suitable
kinds Of trees, shelterbelts can be
made TO answer the purpose of valuable
woodlots, furnishing all the fuel, fence
posts, and farm repair material the
farmer may need The two uses will
admirably go hand in hand, and be-
tween them will materially improve
the value of the land and the comfort
of the farmer.
To promote this end the bureau of
forestry has assigned to Illinois for
this summer field party of five ex-
perts, under the supervision of r. S.
Kellogg. They will study both native
and planted trees to gain full under
standing of the rate of growth and re-
productive powers of the trees which
are the most valuable for the state
Data will be collected relative to the
cost and methods of planting and the
time required to grow timber to the
size required for usefulness. When
the study is completed full report on
the subject will be published.
All owners of woodlots or groves in
Illinois who wish to bring them to their
highest value and all who are interest
ed in the important subject of tree
planting for shelterbelts or woodlots
will confer favor upon the bureau CT
forestry by communicating with Mr.
Kellogg, whose address for the sum-
mer is Roodhcuse, III. BY doing this
they will facilitate the discovery and
inspection of greater number of
groves, and will themselves receive
from the field force valuable sugges-
tons On the management Of their plant
ed timber. The bureau will greatly ap-
preciate the fullest cooperation on the
part of landowners in the practical
work upon which the party is engaged.