Windbreaks and Shelter Trees 29 



is fairly compact, and does not rob the soil for any appreciable 

 distance beyond the branch spread. 



For surrounding fields avoid Wattles as you would poison. 

 Their roots wander for many yards and they are of very short 

 life. 



For the convenience of those who cannot get the information 

 otherwise, we have appended a list of trees Which are most suit- 

 able for the purpose, and have separated them into climatic 

 groups as far as it is possible to do so without actual inspection 

 of local conditions. 



(5) Cost of Shelter Belts. 



The uctual cost of planting and fencing will vary with distance 

 from Coast and Railway, hence any figures given under this 

 heading must be modified according to cost of material for fenc- 

 ing and trees. Where there is time 'and a liking for the work, 

 the trees may be raised from seed, and on some farms this may 

 be necessary because of transport difficulties. Presuming, how- 

 ever, that we take a cost of fencing as 20 per mile, ploughing 

 and harrowing at 20s. per acre, trees at a penny each (they can 

 be purchased at 60s. per 1,000), and cleaning twice at 5s. per 

 acre, the cost per 100 yards of " break " would be : 



s. d. 



150 trees 12 6 



Ploughing and Harrowing . . 40 



Fencing 129 



Planting 26 



Cleaning 26 



243 



per 100 yards of triple line. 



Although the " break " is fenced on two sides, only one side is 

 chargeable against it, the other being an ordinary, necessary 

 paddock or field fence. The figures should be taken as contract 

 rates, for a farmer's cost of preparation of land is much lower, 

 and trees will probably cost less. Based on the shelter capacity 

 of the windbreak, the cost at the above figure is, approximately, 

 9s. per acre. 



(6) Protection from Fire and Animals. 



Full allowance has already been made, in our estimate of cost, 

 for a good fence to keep out cattle, horses, sheep and goats, for 

 this is absolutely necessary. Apart from this, the risk of damage 

 from animals is only from rats and rabbits, which occasionally 

 eat the bark during the Winter months. This seldom occurs, 

 however, where the trees are kept free from grass, and this clean- 

 ness is the best preventive. 



