THE WINDBREAK AS A FARM ASSET. 5 



80 rods long and about 28 feet high along the side of a cornfield, 

 afforded complete protection for a strip about 10 rods wide during 

 a wind blowing at 50 miles an hour. On the unprotected part of 

 the field the wind blew down half the corn and bent the remainder 

 halfway, the damage beginning at the edge of the 10-rod strip and 

 increasing until it was greatest in that part of the field farthest 

 from the windbreak. The corn was in the milk stage at the time 

 of the high wind and did not produce more than a third of a crop 

 on the damaged area. On the protected portion the total saving 

 Avas 260 bushels, or the full crop of 6 acres, whereas the windbreak 

 occupied only 2 acres. 



Pic. 2. Corn to the north of a cottonwood grove is badly damaged by shade in a few 

 rows adjacent to the trees. 



Movement of the topsoil also may be checked and dust storms 

 prevented by breaking the force of the wind. For this reason Avind- 

 breaks are of immense benefit in sandy regions or regions where the 

 soil is very fine. 



Added to the crop and soil protection there is the personal com- 

 fort to be derived from protection from wind about the farm and 

 home and along public roads. Furthermore, a protected home is 

 heated in Avinter more readily, and hence more cheaply, than one 

 exposed to the Avind. 



REDUCING EVAPORATION. 



There is no part of the United States, except small areas in the 

 Appalachian and Cascade Mountains, \vhich normally obtains more 

 precipitation than is needed for groAving the best crops. The farmer 



