TREES ALONG FENCES AND ROADS 355 



Using Good Farm Land. Whether land well suited to 

 the raising of farm crops should ever be planted with forest trees 

 or not must be decided by the owner. In cases where this is done 

 it is best to plant the trees in groves rather than in narrow lines 

 as fence rows. Where windbreaks are much needed it is better to 

 plant wide shelter belts than narrow rows. The trees themselves 

 will be of better form and the wasted strip along the side of the 

 line of trees will be less in proportion to the number of trees pro- 

 duced. Field crops usually do not grow close to the line of trees 

 because of the drying influence of the trees. This waste area can 

 be much reduced by using trees with tap-roots at the edge of the 

 shelter belt or grove. Another method of reducing the waste is 

 to open a deep furrow or trench close up to the trees on the side 

 next .to the field crop. This will cut the shallow, lateral roots 

 which tend to draw moisture from the adjoining field. The ditch 

 can be closed and perhaps not opened again for several years. 

 In some states it becomes more profitable to use good agricultural 

 land for trees because the tax on such land is remitted by state 

 law when it is devoted to forestry. The land near the farm build- 

 ings, although the most valuable on the farm, should be early de- 

 voted to either fruit trees or forest or both. A grove planted near 

 the buildings will not only serve as a good windbreak for livestock 

 and man at all times, but will often prevent much damage from 

 severe storms. It will serve as suitable shelter for stock taking 

 exercise during the winter. It may be so planted as to add beauty 

 to the farm. It is an admirable place to be used for poultry 

 runs. Grazing animals should not be allowed to destroy the young 

 growth in the woodlot during the growing season. Seedlings and 

 other young growth should be allowed to start and be ready to 

 replace the mature timber as it is harvested. 



Trees Along Fences and Roads. Trees planted along roads 

 should not be thought of as productive of crops. As they blow 

 down or become aged they may be useful as wood, but usually 

 they yield no other valuable product to the owner. When broken 

 by wind they should be pruned (Fig. 247). For aesthetic reasons 

 they may be very useful. They are sometimes objected to by 

 road engineers if they cause the roads to remain muddy long after 

 the rainy season, or if they cause snow to accumulate in drifts 

 across the road. 



Trees and undergrowth along fences are usually not profitable 

 to the owner. If they are pasture lands they may furnish suitable 



