Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-01-14

FIG. 111.-GooD INDIVIDUAL HOG HOUSE.
spruce is an excellent windbreak tree,
growing rapidly and making dense
hedge. 1t is of little value for timber
purposes. however.
Setting the Windbreak.
Two rows of evergreens are sutti-
Gent for an effective windbreak. II
set sixteen feet apart. with the trees
in the second row opposite the spaces
in the first, they will in few years
form a mass that will be practically
windproof. Willows, catalpas and
other quick growing trees make fair
windbreaks and grow up quickly
enough to be useful for number of
years before the evergreens are big
enough to do any good. Unless plant
ed very thickly, however. much of
their effectiveness is lost in the winter
at the very time when they are most
needed. 1t is good practice to plant
a few of these quick growing trees
outside the evergreens. They will pro-
tect both the evergreens and the build
ings until the former are large enough
to be effective. Then the temporary
trees can be cut down for posts and
wood. 1t is sometimes hard to kill
willows after they once get a start.
but with the aid of few sheep or
goats this can be accomplished.
Little care is needed to get stand
of willow trees. but with evergreens
the case is different. A strip of land
three or four feet wide. where the
prairie states spring is the best time
to transplant. Two to four year old
trees are generally used.
The greatest cause of failure with
evergreens is allowing the root system
to become dry. After the roots are
once dry the tree might as well be
thrown away. as it will not grow. AS
packing of wet moss in which they
are received they should be placed in
a pail of water. They should not be
removed from this until the hole in
which they are to go is dug. Then
they should be placed in the hole i'm
mediately and covered with fine dirt.
IT is important to lamp this dirt tight
~ about the roots. If the soil is
packed well enough watering will not
be necessary. In most cases the trees
will be better off without it. Ever
green's should not be cut back in trans
planting, as is done with other trees
as this causes uneven growth. If n
strip on each side of the trees is cul,
Hvated for few years the trees will
grow faster and be more vigorous.
Building Material.
The question of building material is
an important one on the farm where
there is much building to be done
Lumber is undoubtedly the most con
+ veGient and in most cases probably
; TN. cheapest also. When dura bility is
considered. however. lumber is inferior
to other materials. This is especially
true of the quality of lumber that Is
coming on the market in the last few
= years.
Cement has been much lauded as 1
building material. 1t has many use;
and advantages. There is tendency
uOncNcl, ~ oNcleStllittC VIC "
t cement and to look at it as the bes
possible material under all conditions
aud circumstances. For floors. walks
tanks, etc. there is nothing better, bu
for the buildings themselves other ma
terials are just as good as or bette
than cement If built solidly enough tt
BIZ safe and permanent the cost of ;
: cement building is high. The cost o.
forms amounts to great deal. an(
a man who is skilled in handling ce
: nent is needed to insure good job.
q A more satisfactory building ma
: terial in most cases is hollow brick O.
d building tile These brick can be read
s. lily obtained in most sections of thu
(. country. The cost is little higher thai
# that of lumber and they will last O.