Grand Forks herald., 1917-02-03

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universally as q we'll planned and
planted farmstead. or good grove
around the buildings and yards. 1t is
also noted, that evidently the reason
that there are not groves on practical
ly every farm in the northwest, Is be-
cause the trees have not been plant
ed and given proper care.
1t would perhaps be hard to state
the exact proportion Of farmers that
have really made an effort to grow
some protection from the wind, but ii
Is true that the number Is much
smaller than it should be, and the
fact that there are occasional farm
steads planted. and showing splendid
results. indicates that there could be
many more If the proper attention
was given to this subject.
Trees Cost Nothing.
1t is probable that if an inquiry
were made, the larger number would
state as q reason for not planting
trees, that they could not afford to
do so. While it is perhaps a fact that
those who do have good groves are
the ones who have spent the least
cash in securing them. This means
able; and there are few farms too far
from a natural source of supply to
secure these, as there are very few
streams in the northwest along which
1t would not be possible to secure
seedlings At the present time it is
possible to secure all the trees that
are wanted, without cost, from the
state forestry farms.
The state forestry farm at Botti-
neau, N. D.. not only furnishes all the
trees needed for planting farmsteads
and wind breaks. but will also supply
the necessary instructions, and II
there are number of neighbors join
ing together in the planting Of trees.
they will send a man to superintend
trees really cost nothing. and the
work of planting and caring for a
good grove. that in few years will
be a protection and pleasure amounts
to very little.
Trees Indicate a Home.
A great many. who settled on the
plains of the northwest. did not an
ticipate staying on their claims for
any great length Of time and conse-
to plant trees. Those who came with
the intention of making a home, al
most invariably made some effort at
planting a wind break. which in a
few years would become a real COM
fort.
A farm home that is we'll sur
rounded by trees and shrubs always
naturally gives the impression that
the occupants of the home are con-
tented, prosperous. and the kind with
whom one would like to got acquaint-
ed.
A Homo. not just Place to 1--we.
1t may be said that the house and
= buildings without any trees around
them. in the truest sense is not a
home, but simply place to live A
1n
trees because they have an idea that
they will not succeed. This. however,
cannot be true, because there are so
many instances in every locality where
they have been planted, and with the
greatest Of success.
In Williams county. North Dakota
which Is we'll in the northwest corner
McGregor and Tioga, most unusual
contrast is seen within a mile. At one
farm. where only small buildings had
been erected. and absolutely no trees
or shrubs of any kind planted, the
snow. during February Of 1918. va.
actually banked as high as the barn
Hay stacks. chicken coop and every.
thing was completely covered. Half g
mile down the road was a place
which evidently had been settled moi
longer than ten or twelve years, judg.
Ing by the apparent age Of the timber
with farmstead completely sur.
rounded by half dozen rows Of trees
and few rods back row or two OF
willows, behind which all the snow
which would otherwise have been pill.
ed around the buildings, had stopped
Inside Of this grove, around the barn
and house. there was no snow, ex.
cept what had fallen straight down
The chickens and hogs and cattle were
all out in the lots enjoying the sun
shine. The soil on the two places
could not possibly have been dissimi.
lar. and the farm with the timber or
1t would doubtless sell for much more
than the farm without it,
Starting a Shelter Belt.
In great many instances the trees
which are planted as a protection tc
the farm buildings. are too close, and
after they have grown up to some ex.
tent, are so open that the snow blows
under them. and lodges around the
buildings to an even greater extent
than If the trees were not present a,
all. This, however, is not the fault OF
the trees. but with the planting and
also with the kind Of trees that were
planted.
In starting the I. H. c. demonstra.
ton farm at Aberdeen. s. D., there
T was not tree or building on the
place. Consequently we laid out a
Iarmstead and have planted a shelte,
belt. Inside Of this shelter belt we
have practically ten acres, which al.
lows ample room for house, barn, lots
and a small pasture, garden and orch.
ard.
This land was prairie sod, broken
in 1913. In the spring of 1914 the
land was plowed as deep as possible
and worked down to a good seed bed
and five rows Of trees set on the west
I and north sides of the farmstead and
one on the east and south. The rows
were put eight feet apart, and the