The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-08-06

Wind Breaks and Hedges is the titl,
Of bulletin So, by G. B. Waldron. OF tho
A. G.. 1t takes up a discussion Of y
very important subject. Below are ex.
tracts:
In a region composed almost WHOLLY
OF high grade agricultural lands the
extent and kind of tree planting should
naturally be greatly different than in a
region made up in part of lands not
especially suited for agriculture. Gen
orally speaking, lands which will pro-
duce goods crops cannot proftably be
devoted TO the production Of timber
This does not mean that a certain
amount Of tree planting may not prove
prontable even on high priced land. II
simply means that, as a crop, timber is
not now as profitable as corn wheat
or alfalfa.
The profit derived from tree-plant-
Ing is not measured wholly bv the tim
Der supply. Trees may be proftabl~
planted to prevent the washing away OF
SOL on hillsides, the forming of gullies
across the land, and for the protection
or our homes, stock, gardens, and or
chards from the winds. Measured in
terms of comfort and satisfaction, the
right sorts of trees properly planted
will prove highly profitable
The primary object of tree-planting
In North Dakota has been and should
be for protection.
The damage done by hot winds to
growing crops is a matter of common
observation. This damage will depend
upon the nature of the crop and the
stage of its development
Small grains are injured most when
they are stooling or when the grain
is forming
Strawberries are severely injured if
hot winds come during the blossomins
period or again when the fruit is ripen-
ening.
Hot winds are most trying to celery
and most other garden vegetables just
after transplanting.
The injury to garden crops from hot
and drying winds makes a shelter belt
almost a necessity If one is to get sat-
isfactory results either from the stand
point Of quantity or quality Both the
trees and the fruit of plums and apples
are liable to considerable injury from
strong winds, and most growers do not
consider it practical to plant without
some protection.
A badly arranged system Of planting
may be a positive detriment, because
of the accumulation of snow drifts
about the buildings and in the orchards,
On the other hand, trees may be so ar
ranged as to prevent the piling Of snow
about the buildings and to provide for
approximately the right amount of
snow among the small fruits and in the
orchards,
The winds most injurious to vegeta-
ton are from the south or southwest,
and for this reason orchards and gar
dens should have trees planted along
the south and west. 1t is also an adj
vantage to have the buildings protected
from this quarter, but they need pro-
lection likewise from the severe north
winds The planting at the north
should be far enough away from the
buildings so that the snow will not pile
up about them. A very good arrange
ment at the north is double belt of
trees with a space of from four to six
rods between, The intervening strip
may be planted to small fruits, but
never 10 orchard trees.
The advantage or even the practical
necessity of shelter belts about or
-chards and fruit plantations is unques-
toned, and in prairie states one rarely
finds even an attempt at fruit growing
where there are no trees.
Kind of Trees.
= An ideal tree for windoreaks is one
of dense, rapid growth. that is at the
same time hardy and long-lived. AS 1t
is impossible to get all OF these quail
ties in perfect degree in any one spe-
cies, II is usually advisable to use
combination of two or three different
kinds to get the best results. For IN
stance, the cottonwood is hardy and
grows rapidly, bur it is not long lived
when planted thiclxly and its growth
is not dense enough to do much toward
checking the wind. The Norway pop
lar and the Carolina poplar being both
forms of the cottonwood, are open to
the same objectins. They may be plant
ed in single rows not nearer than
twelve feet to the other trees to give
/, height to the windbreak, while the
slower growing and more permanent
species are getting started For this
purpose they should be set eight feet
apart, removing every other tree at
the end of Ave or six years.
Certain strains OF the balm of -Gilead
are even better for this purpose, as the
growth Is fully as rapid and more
dense. Other forms of this species are
small and weak in growth and sucker
badly, making them unfit for any kind
OF planting. The forms suited for