SIIELTEPvIXG LANDS. 



take the belt so long to grow large enougli to be beneficial" comes up. The world 

 has always been full of such prudent calculation in all rural matters. They have 

 been, and are now, an overwhelming majority, but a majority that can not rule ; and 

 while they have, with the thing and its utility before them, been resting quietly in 

 such a supposition, the humble minority have been engaged in the work, and are now 

 enjoying the benefit of their labors. Another objection we have heard stated was, 

 that " these belts will occupy too much land." They will take land, to be sure ; and 

 we mistake very much if they do not muJce land, too, by increasing the fertility of 

 what remains by ameliorating the temperature, so that it actually produces much 

 more in actual value than the whole did under the unprotected dispensation. New 

 powers of fertility will be given to the soil, and new products will be introduced with 

 greater prospect of success, and twenty articles of comfort and luxury which, if grown 

 at all, were of indifferent quality, will be raised in perfection. 



But the land occupied by the belt is not lost. In all the older sections of our 

 country, and on the prairies, every tree that grows in the field or forest, no matter 

 where, adds to the value of the estate. It is so now. It will be more strongly felt 

 in the future, unless some new project shall be introduced to cut off the necessity of 

 fuel and timber ; an event not likely to take jjlace. So these belts, if they become too 

 unwieldly in size, or if through the amelioration of climate from natural causes 

 (which we can not expect) so that they are cumbersome or useless, will pay a good 

 per cent, on the value of land when taken off. They need not, under any circum- 

 stances, demand a width of more than ten or twelve feet ; all beyond this may be 

 appropriated to ordinary purposes of cultivation. We give this as the extreme 

 quantity — all they will require when fully grown, so as to soften the atmosphere for 

 many rods. In the early stages of growth — say for the first ten years — they ^^ill 

 require no more ground than a heavy wall, and less than a Virginia rail fence. Belts 

 of deciduous trees would be highly effective, but evergreens are best adapted to the 

 purpose, from the compactness of their branches and leaves, which, when trained by 

 shortening-in the branches, will render them almost impervious to winds. The Pine 

 and the Hemlock are probably best adapted to the purpose from their extreme hardi- 

 ness and compactness of form. The Cedar and Fir, in proper localities, will probably 

 prove equally beneficial for the object. 



The imaginary difficulty of successfully transplanting evergreens will doubtless be 

 an obstacle in the minds of many to their adoption for this purpose. But it need not 

 be. They may be as safely transplanted as the Poplar or Willow, if proper care is 

 used in the operation. The ground where they are to be set should be prepared 

 previous to their being taken up, as this will shorten the time of the roots being out 

 of the earth and exposed to the atmosphere, which, without proper precaution, is 

 injurious to any tree. The ground should be prepared by opening a trench amply 

 wide enough to receive all the roots that can be obtained, and allow them to lie 

 extended in their natural position, and so deep that the mellow earth may be thrown 

 for them to rest upon. They may then be set by a line and loose earth thi 

 ntil the roots are so far covered as to allow ample space for the first year's gr 



