WIND BREAKS AND HEDGES. 



It will often be found that it is a good thing to throw a sort of 

 screen or protecting wall of trees or shrubs around all or part of a 

 place as a shelter against wind or frost. In fact, in many loca- 

 tions on large rivers or the sea it is well-nigh impossible to grow 

 anything without some such screen. 



As a general thing I do not like straight rows of trees or shrubs 

 in an informal garden scheme for the reason that they look too 

 artificial. If one wants to make a wind break, or to separate a 

 part of his grounds from the rest or from his neighbor's it seems 

 to me far better to plant an irregular border. This may consist 

 of lofty growing trees, shrubs and even herbaceous plants so ar- 

 ranged that when grown he will have an irregular sky line, a 

 variety of form and colors. Where one is merely separating one 

 part of his land from the rest a low screen may be planted con- 

 sisting of shrubs and small growing plants. 



For a wind break it is necessary in exposed places to use trees 

 which are practically evergreen and quite wind resistant, and 

 as yet we have, perhaps, not had sufficient experience in Florida 

 to make the best selection of species. The Australian pine, 

 Casuarina equisetifolia, is a native of the Oriental littoral region 

 of the tropics. It is one of the most rapid growing trees known; 

 it stands the salt air remarkably well, it is fairly wind resistant. 

 It is probable that all the date palms will work in finely for wind 

 breaks and that they will stand salt air, and this is likely true of 

 the Inodes and most of the Cocos. Our own cabbage palmetto 

 does excellently in the most exposed situations, even fronting 

 onto the sea. The live oak will only resist salt spray moderately 

 well and where it is too much exposed its foliage is likely to be 

 scorched on the seaward side. Some of the bamboos work in 

 finely in mixed wind breaks but, so far as my experience goes, 

 their leaves do not stand salt air well. One of the finest things 

 for a wind break in the lower part of the state is the rose apple, 

 Eugenia jambos. It has long, glossy, evergreen leaves which are 

 a rich red or purple when young, the growth is compact and bends 



65 



