12 MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION Cir. 78 



the box elder and poplar, with the idea of removing the shorter- 

 lived trees as they begin to crowd. The white elm thrives in some 

 sections of Montana. Where the growing season is not too short 

 and where the rainfall is a little above the average, the elm may 

 work out well as a windbreak tree. It is long-lived and may be 

 alternated in the rows with poplars as it grows quite slowly at first. 

 The Siberian pea tree is one of the hardiest plants available for wind- 

 break purposes. It is a small shrub, rarely growing over fifteen feet 

 high. It makes a low, compact growth, and for that reason makes 

 a first-class tree for the outer rows. It should be used in preference 

 to the golden Russian willow where there is doubt as to the willow's 

 being adapted to the conditions. 



Of course, the evergreens are not so promising for the dry 

 farm. Yet after they become established they resist drought and 

 severe weather even better than some of the trees just mentioned, 

 and they would surely make ideal windbreaks. It is possible that 

 after a shade is once produced the bull pine may be started among 

 the other trees. Attempts should be made to start only small 

 specimens, those not over a foot high. 



In arranging the windbreak the rows of trees should be placed 

 from eight to ten feet apart, with the trees from four to eight feet 

 apart in the rows. The trees in the outside rows may be planted as 

 close as four feet, while permanent trees should stand eight feet 

 apart. Where the ash and box elder are planted alternately, set the 

 ash eight feet apart with a box elder between. 



PLANNING AND PLANTING THE YARD 



The planning of the yard should have the same careful consid- 

 eration as does the planning of the home. Not only the convenience 

 of the place but especially its attractiveness depends upon proper 

 planning and planting. Considered from the standpoint of beauty 

 alone, the yard may be planted by the same rules as those which 

 the artist follows in painting a landscape. For after all the yard is 

 to become a picture or a series of pictures, good or bad, depending 

 upon the skill displayed in planning it. The artist would not paint 

 a home scene with the house the foremost figure. He would not 

 picture the entrance to the grounds as a straight lane terminating 

 at the door of the barn, giving an unobstructed view of barnyard 

 ^cenes, which are at best seldom attractive. Nor would he bound 



