182 PRODUCTIVE FARMING 



Make the belts of trees several rods wide, because single 

 rows of trees or narrow belts are less profitable when we 

 consider the relative amount of land used. 



Shelter-belts should be planted on the side of the pre- 

 vailing winds. In some places this is on the southwest side 

 of the group of farm buildings to protect the premises from 

 hottest winds of summer. The coldest winds of winter will 

 be checked by planting trees along the north and northwest. 

 Probably the planting of belts along the north and west 

 sides would be best in most cases. 



In prairie countries and in dry climates the shelter-belts 

 should be used to protect fields of crops from both the blast- 

 ing winds of summer and the storms of winter. 



Kinds of Trees. There has always been a tendency in 

 the prairie States to plant trees that would grow quickly. 

 These are not the best kinds because, as a rule, they are 

 short-lived and the plantation is soon gone. The more 

 permanent kinds of trees should be chosen. 



The revenue to be derived from the sale of fuel, posts, 

 poles, and lumber should be considered in the choice of 

 varieties. Chestnut groves have often paid a good return 

 for their cost in the nuts produced for market. Walnut is 

 a slower growing wood than cottonwood, but when mature 

 will return a much larger Income for each year of its growth. 

 Trees with deep root systems should be chosen if the trees 

 are to grow near other crops, as the surface soil will not be 

 dried out so fast. Such trees would be walnut, hickory, 

 hardy catalpa, chestnut, locust, and others. All of these 

 have valuable woods. 



Propagation of Forest Trees. Nearly all kinds of forest 

 trees are propagated by seeds. Willows and a few others 

 are easily increased by cuttings. 



The seeds for planting should be mature and as freshly 

 gathered as possible. It is quite difficult to germinate some 

 tree seeds that are very old and dry. 



