TREE GROWING ON COTEAU FARM. 445 



limbs and oftimes the whole top of the tree to be broken down, and 

 often the main trunk. Such a grove is unsightly in the extreme and 

 cannot, of course, be a thrifty shelter belt. The most unpleasant 

 thing which one finds when riding over the prairie region is noticing 

 such groves that have been marred by drifts, broken down with ice 

 storms and greatly injured by the dense grass and tall weeds which 

 have been allowed to grow among them. The true way to prevent 

 this trouble is to leave from one to two spaces of from one to two 

 rods in width between the shelter belt of willow or any substitute 

 plant and the beginning of the planting of other trees. This area 

 need not be lost in utility because it can be seeded down, now and 

 then top dressed with manure, and will furnish a good supply of 

 hay each year. If there be but one such border it makes an excellent 

 turning place for the teams while cultivating the trees. This long 

 platted area, which should be sodded, makes what we call a snow 

 storage. The drifts pile upon it. In case the lay of the land is such 

 that one such area will not take all of the snow, then we should use 

 two by placing a second hedge row between the two borders as de- 

 scribed. With such an area so protected, mainly from the south 

 and southwest, the west and north, there can be grown with great 

 success those trees which have proved to be with us most hardy. 



SHORT LIVED TREES. 



From present experience we would recommend two varieties 

 of trees as being most successful for southwestern Minnesota. One 

 of them is the European birch. This tree was brought from the 

 mountains of Europe, where it grows with thrift close upon the 

 snow line of the mountain range. It has a grand root system : hence 

 the tough limb — no sleet storm can break it down. It is sturdy in 

 its appearance as well as shapely in its growth. When this tree is 

 planted upon the rich soil of our prairies it responds wonderfully 

 well to its better location, grows rapidly and makes one of the best 

 trees that I know of to be planted in connection with others that we 

 will soon mention. 



The next tree in order of merit is, I think, the Russian poplar. 

 This tree grows rapidly, is more tender in the branch than the one 

 already mentioned, but will excel it in growth. It is far superior to 

 the cottonwood. It also is shapely and pleasant in its appearance. 



THE LONG LIVED TREES. 



If one studies to be successful in the growing of forestry upon 

 the prairies they will, I think, adopt a method that I know will suc- 

 ceed. Plant the short lived trees in connection with the long lived 



