SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 197 



The President said he would appoint the committees later in the 

 day. 



DISCUSSION ON THE TWO PAPERS. 



jMr. KelloiJjf^ 1 consider the last papers very valuable, as'they 

 were experiments of benetit to all, and I move that a vote of thanks 

 be tendered Mr. Douglas for his paper. The evergreen shelters 

 about our houses are very imi)ortant things. Let the farm be sur- 

 rounded with shelter belts. I think that a single row of trees around 

 a forty-acre iield enhances the value of it very materially. 



Mr. Minkler — We begin planting with small trees and set them 

 thick for effect, and when they grow up they get too thick, and 

 should be thinned out. but we are tender-hearted and do not like to 

 cut down a nice tree, so many of our homes have too many trees 

 about them. What is handsomer than a Norway hedge? It is 

 always green and beautiful. It holds its base well and stands the 

 shears better than most any other evergreen. Mind and keep your 

 base in starting a hedge, and don't plant too thick. Some plant one 

 foot apart and some eighteen inches, but I doubt if you ever get a 

 fence in that way. I would never plant any fence nearer than four 

 feet. After one or two years it is grown together, and the roots 

 have a soil to work in and grow strong and do not crowd one another, 

 so that in a few years you have a perfect and beautiful fence. For 

 wind-break Norway spruce is the very best, and nothing you can 

 build makes as good a hen-house. You can plant white pine around 

 your farm for fence posts and stretch wire on them, which makes 

 you a good fence. 



Mr. Whitney — I have white pine. Norway spruce, balsam fir. 

 and others, with Avire on them for fence. 



Mr. Woodard - Twenty-five years ago I planted on my place 

 Norway spruce and arborvita? hedges, and they are as fresh and 

 handsome to-day as they ever were. I have a good many large 

 evergreens on my place that were planted at the same time. I would 

 not take twenty-five dollars a tree for them. My home would be 

 ruined if the hedges and evergreens were cut away. Hemlock makes 

 ji good hedge also. These home-features grow dearer to ray wife and 

 I every year as we grow older. If we would plant more trees around 

 our farms thev would look more cheerful and home-like. 



