Graham guardian., 1908-06-26
TO STUDY sHtlTeRBFLTs
The Work Will Be Done by the
United States Forest Service Tree
Planting Experts

practical and scientific study of
the use aud effect of timber wind
breaks aud shelterbelts in the
agricultural regions Of fourteen
western states. This is the first
time in this country that a study
of this much discussed question
has been undertaken over a wide
region. under one plan, for the
purpose of collecting data for the
benefit of the agriculturis,s who
are developing the western plains.
At presen, windbreaks are planted
at haphazard, ono kind here,
another there If ono kind is
better than another, the govern
ment experts think that fact ought
to be known, aud it is believed
that the study about TO be under
taken will settle the question once
for all. 1t will at least collect
such facts never before brought to-
gether.
The work will be done by the
United States Forest Service. In
some states the agricultural ex
pertinent stations will cooperate
in the studies, and in these cases
the Forest Service will provide
the necessary apparatus, and the
other expenses will be shared half
and half by the government and
experiment stations. The investi
cations will be taken up in FIVE
states this year and extended to
the other nine as rapidly as the
Investigations are completed. Four
of the states 10 which the study
will be made this year are Nebras
ka, Colorado, Oklahoma and
Kansas. The fifth will be either
Minnesota, North Dakota or Iowa
Ultimately the Investigations will
cover Minnesota, North Dakota,
South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa,
Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado,
Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Wash
ington and Idaho.
The sudden ruin that hot winds
sometimes bring to growing crops
in parts of the West is well known.
Blowing strongly across the uu'
obstructed plains, these winds may.
be iu few days blast all hope OF
even partial harvest This is
particularly true in the lower por-
ton of the central plains region,
and in years of unusually low
rainfall. Here the winds most to
be feared blow from the southwest
or south. Ia the northern prairie
region the former is exposed to
the hot "Cbiuook" wind, which
sweeps down from the Canadian
mountains. This either dries out
growing crops or, If it prevails
before the danger of killing fros,s
is past, causes loss through urging
vegetation forward prematurely
Cold winter winds also do great
injury TO crops, make the climate
more severe for stock and men,
and interfere with an even cover
ing of snow npon the ground.
This is true from Canada almost
to the Gulf.
In Southern California, dry
winds from the north and north.
east sweep down from the Mohave
Desert with destructive results.
Coming in June, these winds may
reduce the wheat yield of unpro-
tected fields to almost nothing
Windbreaks of eucalypts and
Monterary cypress, now in such
common use 10 protect orange
groves and orchards, long ago
convinced possessors of highly
cultivated irrigated land Of the
value of tree planting for protec
ton purposes.
But there are two sides to the
windbrrak question. Some prairie
farmers declare positively that
belts Of Usage orange, for instance,
are "nuIsance." Others cite
figures to show positive benefit
Mr.. Morris Thompson, who lives
near Downs, Kansas, gives his
yield Of corn from field protected
on the south by row of tall
cottenwoods as six bushels per
acre more than in places whore
there is no protection. About
fifteen acres are benefited IN this
way, 1t 10 highly improbable
that the windbresk occupies subj
cient land to Offset this benefit.
An Illinois farmer sums up his
observations upon this matter thus;
"My experience is that IL
cold and stormy winters, whea,
protected by timberbelts yields
full crops, while fields not pro
tected yield only one third of q
crop. twenty-five or thirty year:
ago we never bad any wheat killed
by winter frosts, and every year t
full crop of peaches, which is now
rare. At that time we had plenty
Of timber around our fields anC
orchards, now cleared away,
The Forest Service proposes t.
find out Just when and how mucl
wapdbresAs inpreAse the yield o
crops. no carry out the plans
much technical work will be neces
an,v Joatrumepts will ba used 4,