Live Stock Breeders' Associatio7i. 125 



lively, that the direct loss from fires falls almost wholly on individ- 

 uals and lumber companies, yet, owing to the hardwood character 

 of the forest the direct loss is usually considered trifling. The loss 

 in soil productiveness and the prevention of desirable reproduction 

 are more important to the State than to the private individual who 

 owns the land, but has no thought of a second crop. An active 

 campaign of education should be begun and vigorously prosecuted 

 until public sentiment favorable to forestry and forest protection 

 results. 



PRAIPJE REGION. 



The vast prairie region of the State, embracing as it does 

 much of the finest farming land of America, has also ample room 

 for the practice of forestry. The problem there is concerned 

 mostly with wood lots and small tracts, for the farm is rare in- 

 deed that contains no portion chiefly valuable for timber growing. 

 If properly managed the wood lot will supply the farmer with 

 posts, fuel, building material and some timber for market. 



Every farmstead should be provided with protection from 

 winds. For the live-stock grower, shielding the barnyard and 

 feedlots will economize the grain necessity to fatten animals, since 

 less food will be required to maintain the body warmth of the stock 

 in winter. In summer, a small part fenced oflt from the wood lot 

 will afford cool shade to fattening animals, which lose flesh in very 

 hot weather. A belt of forest trees will greatly reduce the danger 

 of late frosts to the fruit blossoms of an orchard. 



The woodlot should occupy the waste land not suitable for 

 farm crops. Steep hillsides, ravines, swamps, sand dunes, creek 

 banks, rocky slopes, and corners cut off by ditches, creeks or rail- 

 roads, will sustain a good growth of timber and become an im- 

 portant source of revenue. Forest growth on steep slopes and 

 river banks protects them from erosion by heavy rains and fresh- 

 ets. On the farm without waste land the woodlot should be so 

 located as to afford the best protection. Strips at least five rods 

 wide should be maintained along the windward side, usually the 

 north and west, and in addition there should be a shelter belt 

 around the house and farm buildings. Such timber tracts add 

 materially to the attractiveness and sale value of the farm. 



While this is for the private individual, it remains for the 

 State to assist, direct and encourage his efforts. The details can- 

 not be given here, but the general plan for such assistance would 

 include educative propaganda, experimental and demonstration 



