CHAPTER XLII 

 PROTECTION FROM WIND AND FROSTS 



Though the climate of California renders unnecessary the protection 

 against rigorous weather which fruit growers in some other parts of 

 the world have to provide, there is often advantage in securing shelter 

 from winds and protection from late frosts. 



The general subject of forest planting in California, and the effect 

 of preservation and extension of our forest area upon our fruit indus- 

 tries, has received the attention of our best-informed growers. The 

 planting of shelter belts at intervals across our broad valleys at right 

 angles to the courses of prevailing or most violent winds, has also been 

 urged with great force. These greater enterprises and projects are 

 beyond the scope of this treatise. It is rather concerning the planting 

 of trees to shelter individual possessions that a few suggestions will 

 be offered. 



It has been already remarked that on the immediate coast the suc- 

 cessful growth of fruit will sometimes be wholly dependent upon proper 

 shelter from prevailing winds, and in regions farther from the ocean 

 the topography may induce strong currents of air which will illy affect 

 trees and vines. In all such places the fruit grower should plant wind- 

 breaks, and will find himself well repaid for the ground they occupy, 

 by the successful production on the protected area. 



In the interior valleys there is also need of shelter from occasional 

 high winds which may visit the orchards either in summer or winter, 

 and prove destructive both to trees and fruit. In some cases long lines 

 of the sheltering trees have been cut down because they affected the 

 fruiting of orchard trees planted too near them, and afterwards the 

 losses through lack of protection were far greater than would have 

 been incurred by retaining them. 



What Kind of Trees to Plant. This is a question concerning 

 which there is much to be learned. Data is accumulating in the growth 

 of trees planted to test their suitability, and the future planter will have 

 more certain ground to proceed upon than is now available. Mention 

 will be made, however, of a few trees, which are now most widely 

 grown. 



The most widely planted shelter tree is the Eucalyptus globulus, 

 or Australian blue gum. It is a rapid grower and voracious feeder, 

 and wonderful for root extension, for which it has been roundly abused. 

 It is doubtful, however, whether we have a better tree for high growth, 

 and consequent large area over which its shelter will be felt. It is 

 deficient in undergrowth, and if a close screen is desired, the planting 

 of eucalyptus and Monterey cypress ( Cupressus macrocarpa) is a com- 

 mon practice. The latter also attains a good height, but its broad, thick 

 base fills the gaps between the bare stems of the gum trees. Another 

 tree which has often been planted with the blue gum, to supply a thick, 



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