142 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
HOW TO GROW AN EVERGREEN WINDBREAK 
IN WESTERN MINNESOTA. 
D. T. WHEATON, MORRIS. 
Mr. President and Fellow Members : 
When this topic was assigned me, I told the secretary I could 
not tell him anything by experience as to evergreen wind- 
breaks in western Minnesota. There are but few groves of 
evergreens in the western part of Minnesota. And I want to 
say the little experience I have had was in setting out trees 
around my own buildings. -) 
The first requisite for an evergreen shelter belt is a fixed purpose 
to have one and not to be discouraged because of failure at the first 
or second time of trying. Itis very necessary to plan and prepare 
for the planting and not to go at itin a hap-hazard way and hope 
the trees will grow, and if they do not to wonder why and blame 
somebody else for the failure and to declare it is no use in trying 
for they just will not grow. If all, or even half, the evergreen trees 
that have been set out in western Minnesota were growing, there 
would be no need of urging the planting of more evergreens, as 
there would be many groves, and the benefits would be so appreci 
ated and be so apparent to everybody that many others would go 
and plant shelter belts. 
Before planting evergreens, the ground must be thoroughly pre- 
pared. If the landis sandy but little preparation is necessary; but 
for prairie land in general,thesod must be wellrotted and the ground 
subdued by cultivation. A crop of corn or potatoes the previous 
year is a good preparation. Plow deep and drag thoroughly so 
that the soil is in good tilth. 
Order the trees early in the season from a reliable nursery—the 
nearer home the better—get small trees from twelve to fifteen | 
inches high that have been transplanted one or more times, as a 
transplanted tree has better roots. Buy good trees; it is a false 
economy to buy second or third class trees, the difference often be- 
ing the measure of success or failure. 
Above all things do not purchase forest seedlings from some itin- 
erant tree peddler, who has hauled the tree about for a week or 
more, for the probabilities are that not ten per cent. of the trees are 
alive and that not one per cent. will grow. It is surprising how 
many of these forest tree seedlings are sold and planted every 
year—most of them are set out ina little hole dug in the sod. Is it 
any wonder that people say that they cannot make evergreens live, 
when they try setting these forest seedlings year after year? Some 
deciduous trees will stand a good deal of neglect and still live and 
grow; the roots of an evergreen are very sensitive and require the 
utmost care. All conifer have a mass of fine roots, especially after 
being transplanted, and the roots would necessarily dry quickly. 
As soon as dug a resinous sap exudes from the roots, and if ex- 
posed to the dry air or sun this will harden, and if the exposure 
is for any considerable léngth of time the trees will never grow. 
