CHAPTER XLV. 



PROTECTION FROM WIND AND FROSTS 



Though the climate of California renders unnecessary the pro- 

 tection against rigorous weather which fruit growers in some other 

 parts of the world have to provide, there is often advantage in se- 

 curing shelter from winds and protection from late frosts. 



The general subject of forest planting in California, and the 

 elf ect of preservation and extension of our forest area upon our fruit 

 industries, 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 concern- 

 ing 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 

 successful 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 of the protected 

 area. 



In the interior valleys there is also need for shelter from oc- 

 casional 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 macro- 

 carpa) is a common practice. The latter also attains a good height, 



