Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-29
TREE PLANTING IN ILLINOIS.
The Great Advantage Of Shelterbelts
in q Prairie Country.

The bureau of forestry this summer will
pursue In Illinois study from which it is
expected material advantage will inure to
the vast agricultural interests of that state.
Planted timbers will be made the subject
OF careful examination to determine what
hirds of trees make the most rapid growth,
and are most valuable commercially and
for use as windbreakS, under the prevailing
cor ditlons of soil. moisture and cultivation.
The topography of Illinois Is such that a
forest cover is not usually needed to pro-
tect the soil from erosion. The land for the
most part Is rolling or level prairie, rich
and admirably suited for agriculture. A
farmer reaping large haryests from his
lands naturally will not consider putting
muse lands to less profitable use. But
experiments have proved that Shelterbelts,
in protecting the lands from wind, inf1u-
ence larger crop yield.
ShelterbeltS are invaluable in protecting
crops from the damage frequently resulting
from the full force of destructive winds,
but possibly their chief value is in con-
serving the moisture 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 effectively retard evapo-
ration, and thereby save to growing crops
the soil moisture necessary to keep them
thrifty during dry. windy times. These
facts are especially pertinent in a treeless,
level agricultural country, where the wind
has an unobstructed sweep for miles and
gets constantly drier in its course. The
strips of land that farmers in Illinois
might divert from agriculture In creating
shelterbelts would be put to better use
than If continued in crops. because the re-
mainder 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, furnish
ing all the fuel, fence posts and farm repair
material the farmer may need. The two
uses will admirably go hand In hand, and
between them will materially improve the
value of the land and the comfort Of the
farmer
TO promote this end the bureau of fores-
try has assigned to Illinois for this summer
a field party of five experts, under the SUI
pervision of MIR. r. s. Kellogg They VIII
study both native and planted trees TO
gain a full understanding of the rate OF
growth and reproductive 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 go to timber to the size
required for usefulness. When the study
is completed full report on the subject
will be published.
The department suggests that all owners
of woodlots or groves In Illinois VINO WISH
all who are interested In the important
subject of tree planting for shelterbelts or
woodlots communicate with Mr.. Kellogg,
whose address for the summer Is ROOD
house. III. By doing this they will facili-
tate the discovery and inspection OF
greater number of groves. and will receive
from the field force valuable suggestions
on the management of their planted timber.
The bureau of forestry asks the fullest CO.
onerat ton on the part of land owners In the
practical work upon which the party Is en-
gagged.