WINDBREAKS AND FIELD SHELTERBELTS 

 ARE A GOOD INVESTMENT. 



By Richard T. Marks, Extension Forester, 

 Montana State College, Bozeraan, Montana. 



There are a dozen reasons why windbreaks and 

 shelttrbelts are good investments, says Richard 

 T. Marks, Extension Forester at Montana State 

 College. 



They provide protection from winter and summer 

 winds, drifting snow; reduce fuel bills as much 

 as 35 percent; make vegetable and fruit gardens 

 more productive; reduce feed requirements of 

 livestock; make the farm a more enjoyable place 

 to live; provide food and nesting cover for wild- 

 life, and escape cover from predators. These 

 are some of the advantages of a welldesigned and 

 managed farmstead windbreak and field shelter - 

 belt. 



Farmstead windbreaks and field shelterbelts are 

 trees and shrubs planted to act as a barrier to 

 drifting snow and strong winds. Farmstead wind- 

 breaks provide protection to buildings, livestock, 

 gardens and orchards while field shelterbelts are 

 planted for soil and crop protection. 



To have a successful windbreak planting you must 

 agree to do the following: 



1. Plan in complete detail ahead of planting — 

 this will include location of windbreaks, site 

 preparation and fencing to keep out livestock : 



2. Select the trees and shrubs to plant that will 

 grow in your area. 



3. Plant the trees in the right manner. 



4. Maintain the windbreak. 



Shelterbelts for Field Crops 



Shelterbelts are trees and shrubs planted for 

 crop and soil protection. Much has been done 

 in the way of windbreak plantings arxjund the 

 farmsteads in Montana, but shelterbelts are 

 lacking in many areas of Montana. The four 

 steps mentioned for a successful windbreak 

 planting also apply to your shelterbelt planting 

 except the number of rows will usually be less. 

 It is recommended that you first plant a main 

 belt of 3-6 rows and then have a supplemental 

 belt approximately every 10-40 rods consisting 

 of 1-3 rows. You can obtain reduction in wind 

 velocity for a distance of 30-40 times the height of 

 the trees. 



Important Points to Remember 



1. Plant on the best soil and slopes, avoiding 

 alkali soils and gravely ridges. 



2. Summer fallow for a year before planting. 



3. Space rows according to technical standards 

 and specifications developed for your specific 



4. Plant more than one evergreen row so as to 

 provide better winter protection. 



5. To prevent openings and to maintain a uniform 

 height, seedlings that die should be replaced prom- 

 ptly. 



6. Cultivate at least three times a year and allow 

 ample row spacing for continuous cultivation. 



7. Fence out poultry and livestock. 



8. Contact your SCS technician, local forester, 

 Fish & Game Technician or local County Extension 

 Agent for assistance. 



* * * 



A police officer patrolling a beach collared a cute 

 young thing wearing very brief beach attire and de- 

 manded, "What would your mother say if she caught 

 you in that bikini." 



"Boy, I guess she'd say plenty," the girl admitted. 

 "It's her suit." 



