Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1910-03-11

that stat" IS going to be- beyond all
precedent in the settling up of the
state. 1t is important. theref )re, as
to where the buildings shall be placed
on these new farms, and as to how
they are going to be protected.
With reference to the placing Of
the buildings, it should be near the
center of the farm. This is impor-
tant. in fact it is OF great importance.
ana yet it's Importance is apt to be
overlooked. In nearly all instances.
the first thought OF the settler is to
build about us near as he can build
beside the public road This may
mean that the buildings will be placed
where it is not possible to protect
them because of proximity to the
m9hWay. Or course Il man cannot go
onto another mans property to plant
Wlndbreak.
The wisdom Of planting near the
center OF the homestead or purchased
farm will be at once apparent when
1T Is remembered that every day that
work Is done in the fields the journey
from the steadng to the fields must
usually be made four times day, in
cluding the going and coming. If the
steading is at one side Of the farm
this will mean the loss of much time
as compared with what would be lost
IT the s.eading were placed in CEN
trail position. Multiply this daily loss
OF time by all the working days of the
growing season, and it means Il very
large loss. Multiply this again by
long years Of farming, and it becomes
huge loss, larger than the farmer
can well afford to bear. Again say,
plant the steading if possible near the
center OF the farm.
Or course the first year it may not
be possible to plant any trees with
tire hope that they will do well, es.
pecially in areas that are very dry.
But the ground may be prepared the
very first season. 1t may be broken
where the windbreak is to be planted.
1t should be SO broken. AS much
labor should be put on the land as if
ii were to be sOwn to wheat or other
grain. When thus managed the land
is in good condition in the spring for
the planting of the trees. Such plant
ing should not be deferred. II the
homesteader IS not able to plant on
three sides let him plant on two, and
il he cannot plant on two let him
plant Oh one. In this way protection
will be furnished in Il very few years.
1t may call for much attention to
make Il success of the trees in areas
that are very dry, but success may be
obtained. OF course much depends
on TIE variety of the trees. Willows
and poDnars are probably the most
likely to succeed. But of course they
must be given cultivation and Of the
most careful kind, not only the first
YEAR but for several years following.
The Importance Of thus securing pro-
lection early out Oh the open prairie
cannot be over-estimated by the new
settler.
1t is not enough to have trees. It
is possible to have Il large area of
trees and yet they may not furnish
much protection. Almost everything
:, depends on the way in which they are
planted. Because of this it is pos
! slble for a comparatively limited area
devoted to trees to furnish more pro-
lection.
In planning for the planting of the
trees, the aim should be to 50 plant
that when they grow annoying winds
will be kept at bay to the greatest
possible extent. Annoying winds may
not mean simply cold winds, but also
strong winds that are not cold. In II
prairle with winds that have wide
sweep, it may be the part of wisdom
to have the trees run all around the
>teading, that is all around the set of
buildings and to have enough of space
also enclosed for the planting of fruit
trees to suffice for the needs of the
farm. Planting thus may limit the
view, but even so, would it not be
better to have Il limited view and
! protection from winds than a wide
view and Il lack of protection?
Usually the protection should run
around ut least three sides OF the ell
closure. The fourth side, that is the
side that is left open, if it is left
open, will not always be the same.
There is difference in localities.
More commonly, however, the east
exposure may be left open with less
harm from winds than any other.
The other three sides should be pro-
tected, not forgetting tine south, for
usually the winds that blow from the