342 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



SHELTER BELTS. 



A. NORBY, MADISON, S. D. 

 (Read before South Dakota Horticultural Society at Yankton, Dec. 13, 1898.) 

 Effective and lasting windbreaks can be had by thickly planting 

 ash, elm, box elder, wild black cherry and other hardy species 

 mixed. The ash is the most reliable but does much better when 

 growing among other kinds, especially such as leaf out early in the 

 spring and shade the ground quickly. When only a narrow strip 

 is planted, a thick row of willows ( laurel-leaf is the best) some dis- 

 tance outside is necessary to stop most of the drifting snow. Mis- 

 takes are often made in planting too closely to the buildings. 



About the value of shelter belts to the farmer, stockman, fruit- 

 grower, yes, every inhabitant of the plains, I scarcely need mention. 

 Anybody that has come under the shelter of a grove on a stormy 

 day knows it. But the ideal shelter belts are long and tall rows of 

 evergreens. A home surrounded by such a protection is an attrac- 

 tive and beautiful landmark on the prairie, and makes our very 

 hearts feel warm whenever observed. Yet the planting of ever- 

 greens for shelter has hardly commenced in our state. The reason 

 mainly is that extremely few believe that they will grow and thrive 

 in South Dakota, because so many attempts have resulted in fail- 

 ures. The causes are several and not hard to explain, such as plant- 

 ing varieties not at all suited to our climate, buying forest-pulled 

 trees or over-crowded and not properly handled trees from the 

 nurseries, long transportation and handling by inexperienced men, 

 and, last, but not least, planting in the prairie or sod in front of the 

 dwelling. Norway spruce, arbor vitae, red and white pines are not 

 adapted to this part of the state, at least, and should not be used in 

 planting either for ornament or shelter, when we have so many 

 excellent varieties doing well here. The red cedar is right at home 

 with us when raised from seed grown in the northwest; it stands 

 more drouth than any other evergreen, grows about as fast as the 

 spruce and is admirably suited for shelter. It must be often trans- 

 planted or root-pruned to move safely. If small plants or trees are 

 used, a little protection may be necessary during the first winter. 

 Scotch pine stands quite well and grows fast when established, but 

 are not expected to live as long or look as well when old as others 

 recommended; still it is very valuable for windbreaks. The jack 

 pine (Pinus Banksiana) is promising, being very hardy and a rapid 

 grower, at least while young. It also stands drouth remarkably 

 well. 



And then we have our own tree, the Black Hills pine, or bull pine, 

 (Pinus ponderosa). It not only grows naturally in the "Hills," but 

 is found east of the Rosebud Agency and in northwest Nebraska. 

 This pine is unapproached as a drouth-resisting evergreen. Here it 

 keeps pace with the Scotch in growth, is a prettier tree and may be 

 expected to live for a hundred years, at least. It is very hard to 

 transplant unless frequently moved or root-pruned. The white 

 spruce is hardy, transplants easily, is a nice ornamental tree and 

 makes a good shelter. The Black Hills spruce is hardy, transplants 



