SPACE, SUN, AND AIR 281 



The prairie-plains area is for the most part gently rolling. It presents to 

 the outlander a monotonous landscape. Those at home there do not find 

 the landscape monotonous, but they long for rest from the heat of the sun 

 and the thrust of progress; for change and rest in a different sort of country, 

 sheltered by trees. 



The need of such change and rest becomes plainly more urgent after one 

 crosses the "dry line," the 100th meridian roughly bisecting Kansas and 

 Nebraska. Dust has been blowing here from the southwest and the north- 

 west, lately. Also, dust has been blowing locally. Heat waves shimmer and 

 dance over this part of our land in summer. Mirage lakes tantalize the eye 

 with visions. 



The recreational wants of most of the people here, on farms and in 

 towns, are simple. They lift their eyes to hills far beyond eyesight. They go 

 for rest and change to wooded mountains, if they can. 



To the Black Hills of South Dakota, to the Wichita Mountains of Okla- 

 homa and the Turtle Mountains of North Dakota, they go for a while, for 

 outings. Still to the west are always the Rockies, and a great many rather 

 poor people of the Midland burn gas to get there and rest for a while at those 

 heights. But most prairie people must seek places for recreation nearer home. 

 Trees for shade and water for swimming and fishing are the essentials most 

 in demand. Remnants of the native forest stands and planted groves have 

 long been utilized as community gathering sites. People frequently drive 

 many miles to enjoy the company of their neighbors at picnic and rodeo 

 time in the welcome shade of the friendly trees. Even such elemental essen- 

 tials are few and far between. 



Under the Prairie States Forestry Project, created by executive order of 

 the President in 1934, large-scale windbreak protective plantings were 

 established on areas where soil characteristics were suitable and within rain- 

 fall zones where the annual supply was adequate to support tree growth. The 

 tree resources of the prairies developed through this cooperatively admin- 

 istered Prairie States Forestry Project are helping to solve an economic 

 problem of soil and agricultural stabilization and at the same time are 

 making recreation spots. In many localities these tree plantings are chang- 

 ing the whole aspect of the countryside. Trees in long strips of a half mile 



