230 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



by heavy willow belts, and we did not lose five per cent. They 

 need protection from those sweeping south winds. 



Mr. C. L. Smith: After they are planted out I protect with 

 lath screen. When I come to set them out I want something 

 to break that May and June wind. If I could not get anything 

 else I would use dirt. 



The President: I would like to ask Mr. Wedge whether he 

 considers it necessary in the southern and eastern part of the 

 state to have a shelter belt of deciduous trees in order to start 

 an evergreen shelter belt. 



Mr. Wedge: In our section I was under the impression, 

 until we had that very dry period four or five years ago, that 

 there was no special necessity for deciduous trees for shelter 

 to the evergreen, but that very hardy tree, the Scotch pine, 

 was considerably damaged at my place (on the outside row), 

 and I found that only those evergreens that were exposed 

 were injured more or less, while those that had a very slight 

 shelter were in very nice shape. I had a double row of Scotch 

 pine that were entirely protected, and they did not show a twig 

 that was injured. I think the wind was too severe; it was in 

 the latter part of winter and the early portion of spring, and 

 the evergreen windbreak that was exposed to the wind looked 

 badly and has looked badly ever since. 



As we go east from Albert Lea there is a very interesting 

 and decided change in the appearance of evergreens, which I 

 I cannot explain. During the summer myself and family made 

 a camping trip to the Mississippi, and I had plenty of time to 

 observe the varying features. Going east from Albert Lea 

 and Austin, I found the evergreens doing better. At Albert 

 Lea white pine is worthless, and west of Albert Lea the white 

 pine is a failure. At Austin the white pine is a beautiful and 

 glorious tree. I do not remember whether it is out in the open, 

 but it is a fine tree, the finest, without doubt. The balsam fir 

 is also a fine tree. I think in speaking of the different varieties 

 of evergreens we will have to vary our rule a great deal in 

 order to accommodate the different localities of the state. It 

 is certain that in that respect the northern part of our state is 

 entirely different from the southern. 



Mr. Gardner, (Iowa): I would like to make this remark, 

 that after forty years or more of experience in planting forest 

 trees, if I were going on a farm now anywhere on this open 

 prairie, I would not do it myself, neither would I advise any one 

 else to plant the willow. There are so many other deciduous 



