PLANTING FOR SHELTER 85 



boughs a pleasant shade from the flies in 

 summer and there is some protection from the 

 wind. 



Larch, if planted in a shelter belt, should be 

 thinned until every tree stands isolated from his 

 neighbours. Trees grown in this way develop 

 strong roots and side boughs, so that they are 

 well anchored and form a good wall against 

 the wind. 



The advantage of beech over larch is that 

 they live longer. Beech belts planted in the 

 early years of the last century are still vigorous 

 at 1,500 feet above sea level. Scotch fir should 

 be avoided on account of their liability to be 

 broken by snow. 



The benefit given to the adjacent land by 

 well-planned plantations is most obvious on hill- 

 land, but there are few situations where the 

 comfort of the live stock and the security of 

 the crops does not, to some extent, depend on 

 protection against the wind. On flat lands the 

 winds blow with great force and keenness, and 

 if they are not checked by trees and plantations 

 they may have a very injurious effect. A narrow 

 depression in the land sometimes acts as a 

 funnel, and even a moderate wind rushes down 

 it. In such a case a plantation at the top of 



