The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-05-06
WINDBREAK IS OF
SLIGHT EXPENSE

(By L. A.. Hawkins, Agricultural Extern
sion Department, International Har-
VeSter Company
VT your farm home is in an exposed To-
cation you can have a permanent, eff
fective windbreak within a few years
and at little expense. The great prai-
RE sections are not the only places where
windbreaks or shelter paintings are great
assets to the farmstead. Many eastern
and southern farm homes are located in
exposed places where windbreaks would
be very helpful in making life on the
farms more enjoyable as well as giving
protection to stock n equipment in I'M
pleasant weather.
There are thousands Of prairie homes
absolutely void of any lind Of trees or
natural protection from the elements,
that might have effective windbreaks in
10 years time n at little cash expense.
Where exposure is sever the shelter belt
should be so feet wide. In less open
places narrower paintings will give pro-
lection. They should be planted OF the
west and north sides of farmsteads in
practically all cases n in many lOca-
lions, particularly in the northwest, some
form Of protection on the south to guard
against the hot winds Of summer is de-
sirable.
In order to have the windbreak a sue
cess the soil ought to be in condition
when trees are planted. Flowing and
Il ndIIOWluR Dis lOI any Obl1CL ClOp ID dQ-
visable, and should be followed with good
cultivation between the rows until they
have reached goo size. Plans should
be made to a at least 100 feet 6e-
tween the inner line OF shelter and the
farm buildings, so there will be less dan
; ger of snow drifting to Objectionable
depths near the buildings. Where snow
is a troublesome factor in winter a snow
trap is almost necessary. To make 6
snow trap, plant a hedge or row OF rather
? thick growing trees, so or rs feet outside
, of the main Windbreak. This will Gauss
the snow to drift into the space between
the trap planting and the shelter trees
5 Obviously this accumulated snow viii
s give much moisture for the Ian and TIT
2 space is a good location for small fruits
some Of the harder tree fruits and gar
s den crops Without the snow trap tn
young trees in the main planting ar
= liable to be damaged by piling snow
Catching. the snow in b trap area vii
r prevent its working through and block
ing walks n driveways. Willows, viii
plum, Russian olive, buckthorns, etc
are fine types Of snow trap trees. The
: should be planted close enough to max
q a fairly dense hedge.
The rows in the windbreak should b
d eight to 10 feet apart with from two t
-four feet between plants in the row
Later, some thinning in the row will b
: necessary. 1t is better to plant youn
: trees and give them good care III theI
n is less danger of loss from ~transplantinI
: The most Of small trees is much less an
" the same amount of money will put /
more Of a planting.
The outer rows should be fast CROWN
II kinds of trees to give more protection I
II the slower growing permanent trees
1T the inner parts. Along the inside of til
shelter, plant trees n shrubs of varioI
kinds that will blend the lawn with tt
background and do away with the III
sightliness of a straight / n Of trees an
the ~windbreak. Local conditions shoul
Ia b. taken into consideration when selec
n ing the kinds of trees to use. Both eve
.e green's and ~deciduous trees ave the
ID place in windbreaks.
In 10 years almost a perfect windbres
rt has been developed for the farmstead
one Of the international Harvester con
pany's demonstration farms in the d
If kota's. With such an Improvement
If easily obtained, it seems foolish for far
families to spend their whole lives {
: farms without the Joy and comfort
h. trees for beauty and protection.