224 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
%; 
BEST DECIDUOUS TREES FOR SHELTER BELTS 
IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA. 
F. W. KIMBALL, AUSTIN. 
The question of what is the best deciduous tree for shelter belts for 
southern Minnesota is, I suppose, asked to invite discussion as to 
What is best to set out where one is aboutto select a new building 
site. Were I about to start on the prairie, I would if confined to de- 
ciduous trees set out on the outer lines, to the north and west of 
about a five acre lot, several rows of willow cuttings, then next to 
them on the inside I would devote a space to green ash and inside 
of them would set several rows of box elders and would thus form a 
dense windbreak that would to a great extent reduce the rigors of 
winter save snow from drifting about the buildings and pretty 
thoroughly protect the stock. The willows, if the rows are not set 
too close together, can ina few years be topped and the summer ; 
wood, at least, for a good sized family,can be grown indefinitely by i, 
cutting a portion each year. It can be gone over every six to eight ¢ 
years, yielding a good crop of wood. Immediately after cutting, 
the stump sends up a forest of sprouts, which by the succeeding 
winter will stop the snow effectually. The ash and the box elder I 
would set in rows about four feet apart and about the same dis- 
tance apartinthe row. As soon as they commence to crowd, I 
would thin them out to about eight by eight feet, leaving them in 
the quincunx order. Theash and elder would furnish a good deal 
of good winter firewood in this thinning process, and I do not think 
there are any other two varieties that will stand as severe drouth 
or as much tramping of stock, if the owner is so indifferent or 
careless as to let stock run in it. After the elder has obtaineda 
growth of ten to twelve feet, Ide not think stock would do much 
harm by running init. While stock will trim ash to some extent, I 
have never noticed them disturb the box elder except to rub against 
it, and it seems able to stand a good deal of abuse. 
A FOLLOWER FOR THE CULTIVATOR.-Cultivating the growing crops 
is highly conducive to growth, but in times of dry weather there is 
an enormous evaporation from the soil that has just been stirred 
by the broad teeth of a cultivator, the land being left in loose 
ridges. Some advocate hanging a board behind to drag the surface 
of the earth down smooth. This has a tendency to pack the surface 
which is not desirable. Hang the 
board as shown in the cut and in- 
sert in the lower edge a row of 
forty-penny wire nails, removing 
the heads. This will leave the sur- 
face smooth and level but loose, 
so that the air and sunshine can 
enter, while at night the moisture- 
laden air will enter, the moisture 
wil] condense as itis cooled by the 
ground, and so will remain in the soil. 
a e, 
