Canadian Forestry Journal, June, 1919 



255 



HELP FOR ONTARIO SCHOOLS 



B^ A. H. Tomlinson, B.S.A., Lecturer in Landscape Gardening. 



The Ontario Agricultural College, through the 

 Division of Landscape Gardening of the Depart- 

 ment of Horticulture, is giving special atten- 

 tion to the beautifying of rural home and 

 jchool grounds. 



Any rural resident or organization may write 

 and procure advice free in connection with the 



location of buildings, as farm or school, the 

 planting of rural home and school grounds, 

 churchyards, cemeteries, village parks, greens or 

 playgrounds. 



When plans are necessary for the laying 

 out of grounds, those seeking help may send to 

 the Department rough sketches of such. 



PLANNING A PRAIRIE TREE PLANTATION 



(Courtesy, Dominion Forestry Branch) 



Shelter Belts of Inestimable Value Can be 

 Grown by Any Careful Farmer. 



To obtain the best results it is essential that 

 here be a definite plan in mind before any 

 jctual v/ork is begun in the way of tree-plant- 

 ng. The majority of farmers on the prairies 

 lave the intention of planting trees at some 

 ime or other, but very few stop to consider 

 vhat would be the best location and arrange- 

 Tfient for the proposed plantation. Too often 

 his lack of any definite plan of planting re- 

 sults in inconvenient and unsatisfactory home 

 surroundings. 



Where there is an initial plan drawn up, a 

 portion of it may be completed each year, or 

 as often as conditions will permit. It is known 

 ;iust where each belt will ultimately be estab- 

 lished and the ground can be broken a season 

 or two before planting and put into the best 

 condition possible. 



It may take a number of years to complete 

 the plan, the length of time depending upon the 

 extent of the plantation and the time and plant- 

 ing material available for distribution. 

 Cautions Worth Noting. 

 A great number of farmers do not consider 

 the amount of labor necessary to properly. care 

 for a thousand or more trees under prairie con- 

 ditions, and very often plant a larger number 

 than they have time to attend to. If the trees 

 are planted and then cultivation is neglected, 

 ; there is a loss of both time and money. A few 



hundred trees well planted and thoroughly cul- 

 tivated for the first three or four seasons will 

 produce a better shelter than several thousand 

 trees poorly planted and neglected. 



A common mistake made on the prairie is the 

 planting of trees on land which is insufficiently 

 cultivated. Perhaps a piece of ground has 

 been broken for a fire-guard, then at a later 

 date it is decided to plant trees. Frequently 

 this old fire-guard is chosen for the plantation 

 without any thought as to the condition of the 

 soil or the effect the plantation will have if 

 located on that site. 



Formulating a Plan. 



1. Make convenience your first considera- 

 tion in arranging the farm buildings and 

 grounds. 



2. Establish the shelter-belt to protect the 

 home and stock against the prevailing winds. 



3. Allow sufficient room between the build- 

 ings and the shelter-belt for the extension and 

 addition to buildings, threshing space, and col- 

 lect snow-drifts in winter. 



4. Allow space for lawns and ornamental 

 planting. 



5. Allow for the extension of the planta- 

 tion for woodlot purposes. 



Conyenience Has First Call. 

 Convenience should be the principal thought 

 when erecting the farm buildings and laying 



