462 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



For wiudbreaks, space the rows six feet apart with the trees four 

 feet apart in the rows, alternating; for shelter belts 100 feet wide, plant- 

 ing four feet apart each way, proves satisfactory. 



In the establishment of windbreaks and shelter belts where conditions 

 are favorable for soil preparation and clean culture as for corn, given 

 during the first three years, it will permit the use of smaller planting 

 stock and stimulate the growth, Wihere intensive soil culture is not 

 feasible, larger planting stock should be used. 



If shade is desired in the pasture, group a few Carolina Poplars or 

 other rapid growing species, on a ridge, north slope or in a field corner, 

 planting ten feet apart each way in such a position as not to hinder 

 cultivation. In five years, these will make a continuous shade, under 

 the group at midday in summer. These poi^lars are of quick growth and 

 short lived and should be pruned to form crowns eight feet from the 

 ground, headed back frequently to thicken and spread the crown. The 

 grove should be protected by temporary fence for the first five years. 

 Stock stamping beneath these trees will doubtless eventually kill them 

 out. New groves can easily be established in other portions of the field 

 when it is observed the original group is deteriorating. 



SPECIES AND SOILS. 



In a large measure, the success of tree planting lies in the skill of 

 the planter to determine the adaptability of a given species to certain 

 sites and soils. The true guide is the natural conditions under which a 

 given species is found growing in vii'gin forests within its natural 

 range. 



There are seventy indigenous tree species in this state from which to 

 choose. It is generally best to utilize native trees rather than exotics. 

 The following trees are a few species of commercial importance which 

 do well under average conditions in this region. The Norway Spruce 

 and European Larch have been planted extensively and have been found 

 to do remarkably well in this state. Austrian and Scotch Pine also have 

 been much used but are not equal to some of our native species which 

 can be planted for the same purpose. 



Norway Spruce is one of the best trees for general windbreak 

 planting. It grows dense, does well on medium and light, well drained 

 soils and is a much more rapid grower than our native White Spruce. 

 It is, perhaps more extensively planted than any other introduced species 

 in the central west. 



White Pine. This is a tree well known to those familiar with tree 

 growth in the Lake States. It originally made up the largest part of 

 our coniferous forests of the north and was found more or less through- 

 out the state. It makes a good growtli on well drained loam also on 

 sandy soils which are not too light. It does not grow as dense as the 

 Norway Spruce but is a good windbreak and shelter belt tree. The tim- 

 ber now brings the highest price of any of the pines. 



Eastern Hemlock. This is one of the most beautiful conifers for 

 general planting on the home grounds. Under natural forest conditions 

 it is usually found associated with Birch, Basswood, Beech and Maple. 

 It does best on damp rich soils, is apt to become open and thin branched 

 with age and the limbs are subject to breaking by heavy snows. It 



