98 WINDBREAKS. 



For Scotch and red pines, the maximum width of a belt, if the trees 

 may be kept to the age of 40 years, should be about 75 feet. About 

 12 rows of the pines, 4 feet apart, should form the basis of the wind- 

 break, these to be supplemented after about 15 years, when the trees 

 will begin to prune themselves, with three rows of blue or Black Hills 

 spruce on either side. There should be one such belt along the north 

 border of every 160-acre farm, another along the west border, and 

 two extending from north to south, at intervals of 60 rods from the 

 west side. This will mean about 36 acres of timber for the farm, will 

 not reduce the total productivity in crops, and will yield at the end 

 of the rotation a large amount of material suitable for box boards, 

 or at least for fuel. 



(6) For Class B or poorer situations, very hardy species must be 

 selected. Of these, western yellow and Scotch pines deserve most 

 consideration for the basis of the windbreak, to be supplemented 

 with blue and Black Hills spruces. The same arrangement should 

 be made as on better situations, but on account of the slower height 

 growth, the belts may not be so wide as before. A total width of 60 

 feet should not be exceeded, and an additional north-south row will 

 be of value to the farm. 



3. THE LAKE STATES. 



(a) On almost any situation in the Lake States region, unless the 

 soil be extremely poor and dry, white pine is preeminently the tree 

 for windbreaks. It should be planted only in belts extending from 

 north to south. The prevailing and damaging winds of this section 

 are from the west, both winter and summer. 



White pine grows rapidly enough so that it may well be planted in 

 belts from 80 to 90 feet wide if it may be held for 40 years, or even 

 greater widths if it is held to the age of 50. Even though the pro- 

 tective value is not so great as in more southerly regions, the increased 

 quality of the products will warrant these wide belts. White pine 

 should be grown for high-quality products, which will have an immense 

 value. Close spacing, about 4 by 6 feet at the outset, is conducive 

 to good form and rapid height growth. 



A few rows of white cedar on either side will augment the value of 

 the white pine windbreak, and will yield a crop of very valuable 

 fence posts. The white cedar may be planted very closely about 

 2 by 4 feet. Because of its slow growth, it should be planted simul- 

 taneously with the pine. 



Orchard protection is generally more important than field-crop 

 protection in the Lake States. Two north-south belts on a 160-acre 

 farm will greatly modify the effects of dry westerly winds. The 

 orchard should be adjacent to one of these belts and, as an additional 

 precaution, should be surrounded by a double row of white cedar, 

 spaced about 4 by 4 feet, with the trees in one row opposite the 



