The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1910-12-29
WLND=BREAKS.
BY e. G. Cheyney, Division Of
Forestry, Minnesota UnIver-
sity Farm.

1. 1. !. j. j. + 1. i. i. + f. + i. I. + + j.
The wind-break 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 be carefully balanced up
In each particular case before the wind.
break is established. For the break
which would be a great benefit for
some particular purpose might be as
great a hindrance in another.
The advantages Of wind-breaks may
be briefly summed up as follows:
They protect the crops to leeward
from the extreme cold of the north
wind, or from the drying effects of
the southwest wind, according to their
location; they help hold the snow
blanket in place, and SO lessen the al.
ternate freezing and thawing of the
ground, SO injurious to some crops,
such as clover and winter wheat; they
add greatly to the general appearance
Of the farm; they furnish shelter for
the stock in the pastures: And they
supply, q certain amount Of fuel and
fence-posts The degree and ,impor-
lance of these advantages vasytgrsat'
h with the conditions ~ ii az
The disadvantages usuaaiy men.
t1oued are threes ~. number 3.t9ind:
/ breaks occupy .spacsz. Which could be
mpra .prof1tably devoted to something
slsS; /, they pile up IT, snow-d5ifts near
them in thu" ,hs1ds to leeward, and
these delay tho spring planting; they
shed small branches and litter, which
interfere with the working ofythe farm
machinery. &a.. qnngs.. = '., v,-a =
These are certainly, objections 1in
the case of land devoted to small
grains; and 1t is yet an open question
whether the benefits derived are more
than enough to offset them. Expert.
ments are now being carried on by
the department of agriculture to deter
mine the true value of wind-break pro
lection, but they are not yet COM
pleted. a-
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
ton whether it does not pay to have
afong the edge OF field turning
strip, which may be used as perma'
nent pasture. There is always more
or less grain lost along the edge OF
the field il this is not done. The first
objection, that of lost space, cannot
b. determined till the protection, val.
us Of the wind-break has been accur.
ately determined.
These objections, however, apply
only in the case of grain fields. In case
Of orchards and homesteads there can
b. no question Of the unadulterated
benefits of a wind-break Protected
in this way, many species Of fruit
Trees. orHeusentai trees and shrubs,
which would not be hardy at all in
the open prairie, do admirably. There
are many instances on record where
orchards we're several times at
tempted IN 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