The San Francisco call., 1908-07-12
FARM EXPERTS TO
STUDY WIND BREAKS
Government Seeks Scientific
Basis for Advice on Proper
Trees TO Plant
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO The CALL

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scientific study OF the use and effect of
timber wind breaks and shelter belts
in the agricultural regions OF II west
ern states. This IS the first time in this
country that study of this much dis
eussed question has been undertaken
over wide region under one plan. 20
collect data for the agriculturists who
are developing the western plains. At
present wind breaks are planted hap
hazard one kind here. another there.
II one kind is better than another the
government experts think that fact
ought 10 be known. and il is believed
THAI the study about to be undertaken
VIII settle the question once for all 1t
VIII ~ least collect facts never before
brought together
The work VIII be done by the United
states forest service. In some states
the agricultural experiment stations
VIII Cooperate in the studies. and in
tnese cases the forest service will pro
Floe the necessary apparatus. and the
other expenses viii be shared half and
hait nF the government and experiment
stations The investigat tons will he
taken Up in I've states this wear and
extended 70 the other nine as rapidlv
as the Investigations are completed.
our OF the states In which the studv
VIII oe made this year are Nebras ska.
Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas. The
hrtR viii be either Minnesota. North
Dahota or iowa. Ultimately the inves
legations viii cover Minnesota Nor+b
DaAota' south Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa.
Kansas oklahoma. Colorado, Texas
New Mexico Utah. California. Vasbincr'
ton and Idaho.
DANGER IN HOT WINDS
The sudden ruin that ho+ v,irds
sometimes bring 70 growing crons in
parts or the west are well know
Blowing strongly across the unob-
structed plains, these winds NAV in a
IeW Gays blast all hope OF even q par
lia4 harvest Ihts is particularly % in
the lower portion Of the central nIafns
region. and in years OF unusuaIlS, low
rainfall. Here the winds most 70 be
reared blow from the southwest or
soutn. In the northern prairie region
the former is exposed TO the hot Chi
nook wind, which sweeps down from
tae canadian mountains. THIS either
drles out growing crops or. II it pre-
walls before the danger Of killing
frosts is past. causes loss through urg-
ing vegetation forward prematurely.
Cold winter winds also do great nftIrv
70 crops, make the climate more Sc
we're Tor stock ana men. and interfere
with an even covering of snow upon
the ground. This is true from Canada
almost 70 the gulf
IN Southern California dry winds
from the north and northeast sween
down from the Mohsve desert with
destructive results. Coming in June.
these winds may reduce the wheat
Yield Of unprotected fields almost 70
nothing Windbreaks Of eucalyptus
and Monuerey cypress. now in such
common use 70 protect orange groves
and orchards, long ago convinced pos
SCISSORS Of highly valuable irrigated
land Of the value of tree planting fer
protection purposes
INCREASED YIELD SHOWN
But there are two sides to the wind
break question. Some prairie farmers
declare positively that belts OF Usage
orange. for instance, are a nuisance
Others cite figures 10 show positive
benefit Mr.. Morris Thompson. who
lives near Downs. Kan, gives his yield
Of corn from a field protected on the
south by row Of tall cottonwoods as
six bushels per acre more than in
places where there Is no protection.
About > acres are benefited in this
way. Il is highly improbable that
the windbreak occupies sufficient land
70 Offset this benefit
An Illinois farmer sums Up his OBJ
servations upon this matter thus. Ny
experience is that now. in cold and
stormy winters. wheat protected by
timber belts yield fall crops, while
fields not protected Yield only third
of Z crop. Twenty-Five or thirty years
ago we never had any wheat killed by
winter frosts. and every year a full !
crop OF peaches, which is now rare. ,
At that time we had plenty Of timber
around cur fields and orchards, now {
cleared away.
The forest service proposes 70 find I
out Just when and how much wind +
bres ks increase the yield OF crops To !
carry out the plans much technical /
work viii be necessary. Instruments :
viii DC used to measure heat and cold +
moisture and dryness, both above and /
below ground: TO register tie force Of (
the wind near the windbreaks and some I
distance away; 70 measure light in +
tenSity and take note Of the effects Of I
shade. 20 register frost at different dis /
tauces from the trees. and 10 keep ao- /
count Of the effect of the windbreaks I
on the snow which covers the ground l
10 ieeward in winter Many other !
rnea asurenents aud tests VIII be made. I
and elaborate data will be collected
by experts who viii have charge Of the
study.
MAY SETTLE QUESTIONS
Many disputed questions viii thus be /
placed 1T the disposal Of the farmers /
who desire Il. Doubtless rows Of trees
between fields sometimes do more harm
than good d. casting shade and alb /
stracting water from the soil. Trees :
may also increase the danger from
frost since the movement Of the air
lessons that danger. The Torest service /.
viii study ali sorts Of conditions. in /
clNding the relative value Of wind
breaks consisting OF a single row OF
trees and shelter belts made up of a
number Of such rows. A windbreak
is usually planted for protection alone. /
4 shelter belt for both protection and 7.
the growing of timber.
Corn viii be the crop studied behind
the windoreak this year. Trustworthy /
conclusions cannot be obtained BY
comparing results from different crops /
Each crop makes its own demand upon /
the soil. so that what would destroy
one might DO little harm TO another /
Corn is q particularly good crop 10 ex- /
pertinent with because il is easily in |
jured by hot, dry winds. will not stand /
shading and is sensitive to frost
The instruments and apparatus for I
each state will be read weekly by /
persons assigned to that duty by the /