256 



Canadian Forestry Journal, June, 1919 



out the grounds. There is nothing which de- 

 creases the efficiency or value of the farm more 

 than a cramped and inconvenient arrangement 

 of the home and its surroundings. With every 

 farm there is an approach to the road allow- 

 ance which is used more than any other, and 

 this should be kept in mind when locating the 

 driveway in order that there will be no time 

 lost when leaving or entering the premises. The 

 same will apply to the entrances from the barns 

 to the adjoining fields or vegetable garden. In 

 nearly every case on the prairie farm there is 

 a sufficient amount of ground which will allow 

 the tree-plantations to be so located that they 

 will not interfere with the convenience of the 

 place and yet will provide shelter for the home 

 and barnyard. 



Prevailing Winds. 



In every locality there is generally some one 

 direction, or perhaps two directions, from which 

 the severest storms approach. It is on these 

 sides of the buildings that the shelter-belts 

 should be established first. Many tree planters 

 in the West endeavor to plant their trees so that 

 they will serve as a wind-break and at the 

 same time provide shelter for the buildings. It 

 should be remembered that the main object of 

 a v^ind-break is to afford shelter for the build- 

 ings and stock, and therefore it should be estab- 

 lished on the sides which are subjected to the 

 prevailing winds. Later, a few standard trees, 

 such as the ash, elm and maple, may be planted 

 individually near the buildings to provide shade. 

 Spacing the Shelter Belt. 



There should be a minimum distance of one 

 hundred feet allowed between any buildings and 

 the wind-break. Where this requirement is 

 disregarded, there is always a great deal of 

 inconvenience experienced later from snow- 

 drifts in the winter. If possible, it is better to 

 allow a greater distance than one hundred feet. 

 As the farm becomes better established there 

 will be need of additions and extensions to the 

 buildings, such as the construction of implement 

 sheds, etc. 



Ornamental Planting. 



That the attractiveness of a place can be 

 greatly increased by the planting of shrubs and 

 flowers is known to all. But on the prairies 

 there are certain conditions which determine 

 the success in growing ornamental plants. It 

 has been demonstrated at the Experimental Sta- 

 tion at Indian Head that many shrubs which 

 winter-kill in the open are quite hardy when 

 sheltered by a belt of trees. Therefore, it is 

 until sufficient shelter has been established by 



the wind-break. On the ordinary homestead 

 or new farm in the West there are many things, 

 such as erecting buildings and fences, which are 

 of more importance than ornamentation. But, 

 as the farm grows older there will be greater 

 opportunities to plant shrubbery and impro/e 

 the appearance of the place. That these con- 

 ditions will arise at some future time should be 

 kept in mind when arranging for the planting of 

 trees. 



Allow sufficient space between the buildings 

 and the trees to make improvements in the 

 future. 



The Woodlot. 



There is no expanse of territory where the 

 scarcity of fuel and small timber is felt so 

 keenly as on the plains. If properly managed, 

 two or three acres of land planted with the 

 proper species and in proper mixture will fur 

 nish a portion of the fuel used on the farm 

 and will supply a quantity of posts and small 

 poles. The area to be used as a woodlot should 

 be included in the initial plan, and, at least a 

 season in advance, a portion of this area could 

 be prepared to accommodate the planting mater 

 ial available. Trees should not be planted in 

 large blocks unless there is a narrow belt of 

 trees previously established some distance away 

 on the sides of the prevailing winds. A great 

 deal of damage will occur unless there is a trap 

 to collect the snow and keep it from banking 

 up in the centre of the plantation. 

 Suggested Plans. 



The plan here presented is offered merely as 

 a suggestion as to what might be considered 

 necessary to allow for in preparing an original 

 plan for any farm home. Local conditions must 

 necessarily affect the general arrangement of 

 buildings and shelter-belts, and, therefore, no 

 set plan can be given suitable to all cases. As 

 a general thing from seven to twelve acres 

 should be included in the plan; any area 

 smaller than this will undoubtedly result in 

 cramped quarters in future years. 



The plan includes ten acres and is designed 

 for a home site placed in the south-west cornei 

 of a section. It embraces practically every- 

 thing that might be considered necessary in the 

 way of gardens, ornamental grounds, barnyard; 

 and shelter-belts for a farm or from a quartei 

 section to one section in area. It will be notec 

 that the main belt on the north and west side 

 is planned for fifteen rows. It might with ad 

 vantage be made even wider than this. It ma]; 

 be taken for a general rule that any belt con 

 taining ten or more rows should be protected b;i 



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