PLANTING EVERGREENS. 95 



north sides of a farm will make a very effective windbreak, but more, 

 rather than fewer, rows of trees should be planted. For windbreak 

 planting it is very desirable to plant trees that make a fairly rapid 

 growth, and for the western part of the state I would advise the planting 

 of Scotch and Austrian pines. In the eastern part the Norway Spruce 

 should take first place, Scotch and Austrian pines taking second and 

 third places. 



For this planting, smaller stock should be used than would be advised 

 for ornamental planting. Three-year-old stock is a very convenient size 

 for such planting and it is much cheaper than older and larger stock. 



The ground in which the trees are to be planted should be prepared 

 by plowing thoroughly the fall before they are to be set. In the spring 

 it should be smoothed and a furrow thrown out with a plow or lister. 

 The furrows in which the trees are to be set should be six feet apart 

 and the trees should be set six feet apart in the row. The trees should 

 be set in the furrow and the soil may be filled about them with a spade 

 or, in case of extensive planting, a cultivator may be used. Mr. Christy's 

 method of planting strawberries and raspberries will succeed in a meas- 

 ure, but if it is worth while to plant a windbreak it is worth while to do 

 it right, even if it requires getting down on one's hands and knees. 



The ground planted to trees should be cultivated as long as the trees 

 will allow a team and cultivator to pass between the rows. Any culti- 

 vation that will keep the weeds down and keep the soil in a good, 

 friable condition will answer all purposes. 



COMMERCIAL PLANTING. 



Commercial planting of evergreens cannot be advised iti Nebraska 

 except in rare instances. In the eastern part of the state on low, moist 

 ground, waste places along streams, the European Larch should yield 

 a good financial profit. This may be springing a new proposition on some 

 of you, but I am suggesting this species after due consideration. The 

 larch makes a good pole and post. It is very durable in contact with the 

 soil, and when planted closely, say 4x4 feet, it grpws straight as an arrow 

 and prunes itself. Along the small streams there are numerous corners 

 and nooks that grow up to Boxelder, Dogwood and the like, almost worth- 

 less stuff, that if planted to larch would in time yield posts and poles 

 that would return money for the time and labor spent. 



Mr. Barnard, of Table Rock, set out a few rows of European larch, 

 •not over thirty years ago, and he is now selling telephone poles from 

 those very trees. A satisfactory telephone pole costs at least $1 each. I 

 bought some recently and they cost me that. Considering that it requires 

 2,700 trees per acre when the trees are set 4x4 feet, the number of poles 

 grown on an acre should be at least 25 per cent of the number of trees 

 planted, which means 675 poles worth $1 each, and a large number of 

 posts in addition. 



In the western part of the state there is an opportunity for extensive 



