The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-03-30
INVESTMENTS MADE
SEVERALY YEARS AGO
Bring HUGE return
$25 to $50 Expenditures In.
creased Value Of Farms
$500 to $4,000
CARE NEEDED IN PLANTING
Young Trees Need Same Pro-
lection When Growing as
Crops Out in Field
CARE NEEDED IN PLANTING

AineS, Ia, March SO.-(NEA)-
Winters ravages to farm buildings,
livestock and pocketbooks have been
cut considerably In Iowa and else
where through the planting OF shell
terbelt trees. These trees, planted
near farm buildings, keep out now
and sleet, protecting the buildings
and livestock on them and indirectly
saving the farmers money.
Twenty-Five to $50 invested in shell
terbelt trees seven to nine years ago.
when the movement was popularized,
have resulted in an increase Of 8 1000
to $500 in the property value Of
some farms, according to statements
Of Iowa farmers.
One farmer says that his shelter
belt saves S. worth of feed for every
head Of livestock behind 1t because
the trees break the cold winds, the
livestock require less feed and gain
more rapidly.
A survey OF some Of the oldest
demonstration shelterbelts In Iowa
by I. T. Bode, extension forester at
Iowa State College, shows that trees
planted properly and given an even
chance to develop have reached the
height Of eight to IL feet In seven
growing seasons.
Protects Man and Beast
Already these trees have proved
their value. Man and beast, protect
ed from cold winds, live In greater
comfort. Snow is kept clear Of the
feedlots and farmyards. Less fuel Is
required to heat the home.
Farmers of the state have been
quick to adopt this natural means
of protection, and have regulated
the growth of their shelterbelts scien-
.ifically.
One farmer plans to plant two
rows of trees every eight or nine
years SO he always will have q wind
break coming on. He will cut out
the old trees. use them for fence
posts or other purposes and replace
them with young trees as needed.
Some farmers make q practice of
growing seedlings in the garden to
replace the few trees which need to
be replaced in the w~indbreak.
Shelterbelts require q $3.50 chance
to grow properly, says Bode. II farm
efs were to plant corn in blue glass
sod and then permit chickens, hogs.
cows, sheep and horses to run at
large in the area eating off the leaves
and trampling down the plants and
the soil around them, little would be
harvested at the end of the season.
Yet too many farmers expect their
trees to grow well under such Condi.
tons.
Care Needed In Planting
Tree planting will be started and
finished early this year II favorable
weather continues. Planting should
not be done under old trees or too
close to old trees.
If the new windbreak is to stand
where the old grove is o located
the old trees should be removed long
enough before so that the old roots
have time to die.
In the meantime the ground should
be broken and planted to q light cov-
er crop to keep down weeds and help
get the soil in good condition.
If the windbreak is to be planted
on ground now in sod, the soil should
be turned over and the ground farm
ed for at least a year In advance Of
planting the trees. It should not be
plowed in the spring before trees are
planted.
Evergreen varieties Of trees should
be used for the windbreak or at least
a part Of 1t. because they hold their
foliage all year and give the maxi
mum Of protection.
In a large part Of the midwest.
where average conditions exist and
the soil is not too drouthy, Norway
spruce and white pine r most sat-
i~sfactory. For drier sections Black
Hills spruce, Scotch pine and western
yellow pine are drouth resistant.
Spruce and Arbor Vitae should be
used where the drainage is not good.