Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1928-05-03
BY Ludwig Mosb@k

What a man thinks of his home is
in the first place revealed by his Sc
lection of the community in which he
establishes his permanent home, and
next by the frame he creates in plant
ing trees and flowers to preserve
health and happiness. 1t makes for
contentment and self-respect, with
out which one is poor indeed.
If you want a tree for today, plant
the poplar, but if you want it to be
permanent, plant the elm The pop
lar sends forth its branches without
developing strength, its spread is mar
row, its life is brief. The Elm grows
roots that are deep and spreading, its
fbers are tough and strong. 1t wealth
ers wind and storm, it lives and
grows for generations. The Elm is
the most substantial shade tree, it
is able to stand on its own feet, plant
ed singly on the lawn, or planted
along highways and roads leading to
our farm homes. In other words, the
poplar is for the renter, the Elm is
for the permanent home builder. But
if you want wind break that will
protect your home in winter as we'll
as in summer, plant the Evergreen:
Evergreens Protect.
The Evergreens will protect stock,
buildings, home and garden in storm
and cold, will provide comfort, save
fuel and feed for man and beast. The
comforting influence of an evergreen
windbreak can scarcely be realized
unless you have stepped behind a
bunch of evergreens on cold windy
day in winter when the thermometer
was below zero. They are inexpen-
sive to establish and add tremendously
to the landscape effect and value of
any farm home. Their returns in
terms of comfort and economy far
outway their initial cost and main
tenance.
section come from the northwest, west
and southwest, consequently we must
plan the planting accordingly. A sue
cessful windbreak should be planted
to grow in the shape of the roof of
a house, so as to throw the cold wind
over and beyond the buildings. There
fore the outside row should be of
kind that will keep it's branches
alive down to the ground, thereby
preventing draft and storm from get
ting in under the trees, which is
detrimental to any grove or plant
ing, and which will sooner or later
destroy and kill the trees. We make
no mistake when we look to Nature
for guidance in matters like this.
We will notice in natural forests the
outside is always protected by low
growing bushes, and we will further
notice that where a highway is cut
through old timber the trees gradu-
ally die off to both sides.
I have experimental with and stu
died this problem more so than ever
before, since l came to Askov in
1906, and it is my ambition to help
pave the way for a practical wind
break and woOdlot around every farm
and home, especially in Northern
Minnesota where the natural condi-
greens.
l have found the American Arbor
Vitae the very best of the Evergreens
for the outside row, where it, when
exposed to light, will keep its branch
es right down to the ground. Pine,
Spruce, and Fir are apt to sooner or
later lose their branches and let the
air in under to the detriment and
final doom of the planting. We can
let the Arbor Vitae grow its natural
growth or we can keep it sheared
and it will make a fine hedge, if it
is exposed to full light and not
shaded by other trees. I will re-
commend that the outside rows be
planted six feet apart.
Socially Inclined.
Evergreens are socially inclined
and do better when there are many |
of them, although two or three rows
will do we'll They should be planted
six to eight feet apart each way, &C
cording to size of the plants set out.
Pine and Spruce of the different
varieties can be mixed in the sue