CHAPTER V. 



WINDBREAKS, SHELTERS., ETC. 



While the hedge proper also serves largely as 

 a protection against wind and storm, it is presumed 

 not to be planted primarily for that purpose. The 

 true windbreak is a very tall hedge, or a close row 

 of evergreens, or grove, or a strip of forest. While 

 I am an enthusiast on beautiful and useful hedges, I 

 believe the subject of supreme importance for Ameri- 

 can agriculture and horticulture is just now how to 

 protect ourselves and our grounds from violent 

 winds and changes of temperature. Professor Bailey, 

 in his admirable discussion of the subject, suggests 

 that one reason why fruit growing is attended with 

 increasing difficulties is because of the removal of 

 the forests The result of forest destruction has been 

 to make our summers hotter and dryer and our win- 

 ters more extreme. It is not so much that the 

 weather is colder than formerly, but that the changes 

 are more frequent and sharper. 



The forest aids the fruit grower in two ways: 

 first, it prevents the severe sweep of winds breaking 

 trees, and creating sudden atmospheric changes; 

 second, it conserves and balances atmospheric mois- 

 ture. The sweep of winds when undisturbed bears 

 away the moisture from the soil and also from the 

 trees and their buds. It is well known that fruit 



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