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220 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
to our stockyards by the presence of these belts of evergreens. It 
would be idle for me to press this point, for every owner of a horse 
or cow is well aware ofits truth. All animals need exercise in the 
yard, and it is good economy to protect them from the fierce winds 
while they are getting it. Here again I say thatit would pay the 
farmers well to plant a sheltering belt of evergreens. 
WHAT AND HOW TO PLANT. 
For the shelter belts before mentioned, we should plant the hard- 
iest and most rapid growing varieties. Throughout the Northwest 
the list for this purpose has practically simmered down to the 
Scotch and white pines and the Norway spruce, with the Norway 
spruce far in the lead. The Scotch pine ranks next in demand, I 
find. This latteris the most rapid growing of all the evergreens, 
but is rather coarse growing in habit. The Norway spruce is a fairly 
rapid grower, heavily rooted, safe to transplant, more symmetrical 
in form and decidedly the favorite as an all around evergreen, both 
for shelter belts and single specimens. All things considered, I 
would advise the planting of Norway spruce three feet high for our 
shelter belts. These can be had for about twelve to sixteen cents 
each if bought direct from the nursery, which is the right way to 
buy trees and plants of all kinds. 
Never set evergreens in a stiff sod. If possible, have the land pre- 
pared one year or more ahead. That is, if it is now in sod, plowa 
strip where you intend to plant your shelter belt ten to twelve feet 
wide and work it thoroughly this summer if you wish to put out 
your belt next spring. Land should be in fairly good condition 
but not freshly manured. By having a strip worked up the width 
just named, you will be able to cultivate both sides of your rows, 
and this is what all trees want. Cultivate this row just as you 
would arow ofcorn. No extra care is needed. Don’t cultivate deep 
enough to disturb the roots nor close enough to sway the tops 
much. Aside from these precautions, Il would add nothing to the 
manner of corn culture. I find it all right for my trees. Cultivate 
for three or four years and then seed down, if you wish, and it will 
be allright with them. Plant only in the spring. 
Send your order in to the nursery, so that your trees may be 
shipped just as the buds are swelling nicely. Take the cover off 
the box as soon as the trees arrive, wet down thoroughly, tops and 
roots, before removing from box. Plant as rapidly as possible, 
using water freely on both tops and roots, taking care not to get the 
soil so “mushy” as to allow the trees to sway about in the wind. 
Water heavily every few days if a dry time comes on soon after 
planting, and water occasionally through the first summer. Use 
only good surface soil against the roots in planting, and tread 
heavily above the roots after all the dirt is in place. Thorough 
firming of the soil about the roots is one of the principal points in 
successful tree planting. 
EVERGREENS FOR ORNAMENT. 
We find the list for this purpose quite an extensive one. In addi- 
tion to those named for shelter belts, I would particularly mention 
