TREE-PLANTING ON PEAIRIES. 57 



which its importance demands. The position of the build- 

 ings determines the location of the drives and of the shelter- 

 belts if any are to be planted. There are many factors 

 which should enter into the study of this question, among 

 the first of which is the lay of the land. Good drainage 

 and good water are the first requisites for the location of a 

 home, after which come convenience and beauty. It is 

 very desirable that the first location be made just right, 

 since when other improvements and buildings have been 

 commenced it can seldom be changed without much extra 

 expense. In the case of most of our farms the subject of 

 plans is conspicuous by its absence, as small cramped 

 grounds about inconveniently arranged buildings bear 

 abundant evidence. 



In Fig. 6 is shown four plans suggestive of the proper lo- 

 cation of the shelter-belts about farm buildings locaied on 

 level prairies, and varying according to the location of the 

 main highway. Five acres in the form of a rectangle, 25 

 rods wide and 32 rods long, are included in the land about 

 the buildings, and this has a shelter-belt five rods wide on 

 the north and west sides, and on the south side two rows of 

 trees ten feet apart, with the trees one rod apart in the 

 rows. Within this enclosure are all the farm buildings, 

 orchard, fruit, and vegetable garden, barnyards, etc. The 

 house should be within 100 feet of the road, and the stock 

 buildings at least 100 feet from the house and garden. 

 About the buildings and garden some supplementary wind- 

 breaks and ornamental trees and shrubs will be needed for 

 wind protection and for beautifying the place. This ar- 

 rangement gives plenty of room for the buildings, barnyards, 

 garden, and orchard, and, while all the land enclosed may 

 not be needed for these purposes, the remainder is well 

 adapted to the growing of general farm crops. The plans 

 are only suggestive and no attempt is made to work out 

 details, and there are comparatively few farms that they 



