Windbreaks and Shelter Trees 23 



Gums and Wattles is that nails and staples will not hold well. 

 Blaekwood does not split so readily, but nail driving is exceed- 

 ingly difficult in this wood also, on account of its extreme hard- 

 ness. The best rails we have seen are those made of young 

 Cypresses, six or seven years' old. True, they want a little more 

 trimming and preparing, but they last well, and every nail and 

 staple grips well. Gleditchia triacanthos will also make a good 

 rail, and even a good dissel-boom. 



Only a few of the available species have been mentioned in 

 this chapter just those which we know to be of general utility. 

 A good many more will be found briefly described in the schedule 

 of utility trees on page 43. 



CHAPTER VII. 

 WINDBREAKS AND SHELTER TREES. 



WE have already mentioned, briefly, the subject of Windbreaks. 

 But the subject is of such great importance to farmers that we 

 make no apology for dealing with the subject at greater length 

 here. There are signs already that farmers are recognising that 

 it is not only necessary, but easily possible, to provide shelter on 

 farms where no natural shelter exists, and the arguments in 

 favour of this are so strong, that once the subject is fairly con- 

 sidered most men are readily convinced that it is the right thing 

 to do. 



The points to be considered here are: 



(1) Uses of shelter belts. 



(2) Arguments against. 



(3) Cost of production. 



(4) Choice of trees. 



(5) Protection from fire and animals. 



(6) Shelter for special purposes. 



(1) Uses of Shelter Belts. 



They cannot be put to many of the uses which are common 

 with plantations, such! as firewood, poles, &c., because we must 

 look upon our " break " as a permanent feature of the farm, to 

 be left alone for a lifetime and handed down to our children. 

 They are not intended for felling and direct sale, but for the 

 production of comfort and beauty and wealth, by their very 

 presence, indirectly. Their main utility may be dealt with under 

 five heads. 



