528 PROTECTION AGAINST WINDS. 



and spread the spores of fungi, and tlie seeds of forest-weeds. 

 Easterly and north-easterly wmds dry up the soil and young 

 plants, and injure the foliage and fructification of trees. Strong 

 south-westerly winds cause a misshapen growth of the crowns 

 of trees, especially near the sea-coast and on the south-westerly 

 borders of forests, where the trees are stunted in height and 

 have their crowns bent over towards the east' (Fig. 241, p. 513) ; 

 they also brealc off blossoms and tender shoots, whilst damp 

 winds near the sea-coast also injure trees by the salt they carry, 

 w'hicli the rain washes from their leaves into the soil, rendering 

 it salt and unsuitable for certain kinds of vegetation. This 

 influence may be felt to a distance of five miles from the sea. 

 The results of these injurious influences are : — imjDoverish- 

 ment of the soil, a rank growth of weeds, failure of reproduc- 

 tion, languishing of young growth, loss of increment* and 

 forking of old trees, spread of fungi, etc. 



B. Damage under Special Conditions. 



(a) Species. — Broadleaved trees suffer more than conifers 

 from dry winds. 



The tender young foliage and inflorescence of beech and horn- 

 beam are frequently so dried up by the north-east wind that 

 they appear to have been frozen or scorched by summer heat. 



The elm, oak, lime and birch are less liable to damage. 



Where the larch is exposed to south-westerly gales, especi- 

 ally on shallow soils, it becomes sabre-shaped, curving out- 

 wards and upwards from its base ; this is due to the wind 

 from its seedling stage continually blowing the tree out of the 

 vertical direction, which it strives to regain by continued 

 upward growth. Orchard trees are similarly affected, whilst 

 poplars and willows grow with their stems bending towards 

 the east. 



As regards winds blowing from the sea, experience gained 

 near the Baltic and North Seas shows, that silver-lir, elms, 

 aspen, black poplar and birch withstand their action well. 

 The shrub-like mountain-pine (Piiius montana var. iincinata 

 Hand.) also withstands the action of winds along the sea-coast 

 better than Sco.ts pine, and is extensively planted in Denmark 

 and along the Baltic coast. In Britain, black pine, the 



