Sisseton Posten. [volume] (Effington, Sud Dakota [S.D.]) 1902-19??, 1910-12-22
WIND-BREAKS.
BY E. G. Cheyney, Division OF
Forestry, Minnesota Univer
sity Farm.
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The windhrrak on the farm is very
often praised or condemned according
TO the personal whims OF the speakers.
without much reference to the facts.
Like most things. such breaks have
their advantages and disadvantages,
which should ho carefully balanced up
In each particular ease before the wind.
break Is estal Ilshed For the break
which would be- a great benefit for
some particular purpose might be as
great "A hindrancc in another
The advantages of wind.breaks may
be briefly summed up as follows:
rhey protect the crops 10 ieeward
from the extreme cold Of the north
wind, ur from the drying effects OF
the southwest wind. according to their
location. they help hold the snow
blanket ir place. and SO lessen the al
l,ruai" freezing and thawing OF the
ground So injurious to some crops
such as clover and winter wheat, they
add greatly 10 the general appearance
Of "a, iaGw they furnish shelter Tor
the stock ia the pastures aud they
supply certain amount 0f fuel and
tencc-pusts fhe degree and impor
tauce OF these advantages vary great
" with the conditions
The disadvantages usually men.
toned are three In number Wind.
breaks occupy space which could be
more proriahN devoted Ia something
else. they Iile up the snow drifts near
them In the fields To lcewaTd, aud
these delay the spring planting; they
shed small branches and litter. which
interfere with the working of the farm
machinery
These are certainly objections III
the case Of land devoted to small
grains and II Is yet an open question
whether the benefits derived are more
than enough To offset them Expert.
menis are now being carried ON by
the department ot agriculture To deter
mine the true value Of wind bi eak pro
lection but they are not Yet com
pleted
one of these objections. the drop
ping of branches and litter, may be
wholly avoided by the selection OF the
proper species of tree The second
objection may be met with the ques
tiOn whether il does not pay 10 have
along the edge of a field a turning
strip. which may be- used as perma.
nent pasture There Is always more
or less grain lost along the edge Of
the field If this is not done The first
objection, that OF lost space, cannot
be determined TN the protection val
ue Of the wind.break has been accur
gt"ly determined
These ELECTIONS. however. apply
only in the case OF grain fields. In case
Of orchards and homesteads there can
be no question Uf the unadulterated
benefits Oi wind.break Protected
jn this way. many species of fruit
trees. ornamental trees and shrubs
which would not be hardy at all in
the open prairie" do admirably There
are many instances on record where
orchards were several times at.
tempted 80 vain in the open. and final
ly were perfectly successful when
properly protected, preferably on the
north. west and south
No one who has lived on the prai
ries will dispute the advantages and
added comfort OF home properly pro
tected from the sweep OF disagree
able winds All things considered,
and in spite Of the alleged objections,
the wind.break is indispensable on the
prairie farm