The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1910-02-10

FIG. III.-GOOD INDIVIDUAL HOG HOUSE.
spruce is an excellent windbreak tree,
growing rapidly and making a 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. IL
set sixteen feet apart, with the trees
in the second row opposite the spaces
in the first, they will in a 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 a 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 a 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 start,
but with the aid Of few sheep or
goats this can be accomplished.
Little care is needed to get a stand
of willow trees, but with evergreens
the case is different. A strip of land
three or four feet wide, where the
row is to be, should be plowed In 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
eyergreens is allowing the root system
TO become dry. After the roots are
once dry the tree might as we'll be
thrown away, as it will not grow AS
soon as the trees are taken from the
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 so is dug. Then
they should be placed in tie hole i'm
mediately and covered with fine dirt.
1t is important to lamp this dirt tight
ly about the roots If the soil is
packed we'll enough watering will not
be necessary. In most cases the trees
will be better off without ii. Ever
greens should not be cut back in trans
planting, as is done with other trees,
as this causes uneven growth. IL a
strip on each side of the trees is cui-
awaited for few years the trees vii!
grow faster and be more vigorous.
Building Material.
| The question Of building material il
| an important one on the farm where
| there is much building to be done.
| Lumber is undoubtedly the most con-
venient and in most eases probably
the cheapest also. When durability 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 a
building material. 1t has many uses
and advantages. There is a tendency
however. to oyereStimate the value O:
cement and to look at it as the best
possible material under ali conditions
and circumstances For floors, walks,
tanks, etc. there is nothing better. but
for the buildings themselves other ma
terials are just as good as or better
than cement. If built solidly enough tC
be safe and permanent the cost of 6
cement building is high. The cost OF
forms amounts to great deal. and
a man who is skilled in handling ce
ment is needed to insure Il good job.
a more satisfactory building ma
terlal in most cases is hollow brick OF
building tile. These brick can be read
lily obtained in most sections of thu
country. The cost is little higher thar
that of lumber, and they will last al
long as cement. A tile building i
warmer than single walled cemen
one on account Of the dead air spac,
, in the walls. 1t takes much less skill
} to put up tile building than one O
cement, and consequently the cost O
construction will be less. For tn
smaller buildings the tile may be pu
up edgewise. In building the barn |
, will be necessary to lay them f1atwis
: up to the hay floor. From there u
they may be set on edge. They Shout
be laid in strong cement mortar. CT