Morris tribune., 1910-12-23
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WIND=BREAKS.
BY E. G. Cheyney, Division of
Forestry, Minnesota UniVer-
sity Farm.
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~fs
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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 a certain amount of fuel and
! fence-posts The degree and impor-
! tance of these advantages vary great
ly with the conditions.
The disadvantages usually men
toned are three in number: Wind
breaks occupy space which could be
more profitably devoted to something
else; they pile up the snow-drifts near
! them in the fields to Ieeward, and
these delay the spring planting; they
! shed small branches and litter, which
| interfere with the working of the farm
machinery.
These are certainly objections in
| the case of land devoted to small
grains; and it 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.
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-
! tion whether it does not pay to have
along the edge of a field a turning
| strip. which may be used as perma-
nent pasture. There is always more
or less grain lost along the edge of
the field if this is not done. The first
| objection, that of lost space, cannot
be determined till the protection val
ue 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
be no question of the unadulterated
benefits OF a wind-break Protected
! in this way, many species of fruit
trees, ornamental trees and shrubs,
which would not be hardy at all in
the open prairie, do admirably. There
are many instances on record where
orchards were 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
| nrairie farm