EIGHTH ANNUAL YEAK BOOK— PART X. 445 



It is quite good as an ornamental tree owing to its regularity of branches 

 which gives it a symmetrical form. The white spruce is a tree of good 

 quality, since it branches low, close and even. The arborvitae, flat-leaved 

 tree is used in windbreaks to some extent with taller growing trees. It 

 does very well in low, wet, heavy soils. It is largely used in hedges 

 because it stands severe pruning and fills out well. For ornamental lawn 

 trees the Silver fir and the Colorado blue spruce are among the best. 

 Their bright, fresh, green foliage makes them cheerful and attractive. 

 There are many other varieties of good qualities, but these named are 

 among the best and will serve for all general purposes on the Iowa farm. 



Having decided upon the kind of evergreens that best suit his condi- 

 tion, the farmer should next have a knowledge of the best methods of set- 

 ting the trees, and how to care for them afterward. In all cases it is 

 best to prepare the ground before the evergreens are delivered at the farm. 

 For windbreaks the land should be well plowed and then furrows made 

 for the rows. Furrowing is not practical for trees under two feet high, 

 but for larger trees it facilitates the work of digging the holes. By all 

 means have the rows straight and even. The trees should be set a few 

 inches deeper than in the nursery. Give the roots plenty of room and 

 be sure to firm the soil about them. If the earth is dry give each tree 

 a half pail of water after the first few shovelfuls of dirt have been packed 

 about the roots. One precaution in setting evergreens is to expose but one 

 at a time. Do not string them out like a row of fence posts and then 

 plant them afterwards, but get the tree into the ground as soon as pos- 

 sible after taking from the packing in which the trees were shipped. 



The T)est method, and the one most usually followed, is to raise pota- 

 toes, corn or other annual crops along with the evergreens until they 

 have reached a considerable size. The advantage of this method is that 

 the ground between the rows does not go to waste, and at the same time 

 the evergreens get the necessary cultivation. Another plan quite often 

 followed is to mulch the trees heavily with straw or coarse manure. This 

 has a tendency to make the trees shallow-rooted, for they will not send 

 their roots downward, as they do when frequently cultivated. 



Either of these plans worked out alone will not give the best results. 

 Cultivate in the growing season of early summer and after the drier 

 weather comes on. Give the trees a heavy mulching. During the first 

 years evergreens need water if there are not good rains every two weeks. 

 Water when they need it and give them plenty. The best time for water- 

 ing is late in the afternoon or evening. 



With good trees to start with, rich soil and plenty of rainfall, and then 

 a little hard work and careful thinking, the Iowa farmer can have a wind- 

 break of which any man may well be proud. 



DOES IT PAY TO SPRAY? 



By Prof. S. A. Beach, Iowa State Register and Farmer. 



In answer to this question we invite our readers to read carefully the 

 accompanying report of an experiment in spraying apples conducted by 

 Prof. S. A. Beach of Ames the past season: 



