THE TIMBER RESOURCES OF NEBRASKA. 211 



obscured that its importance is not full} 7 recognized. On the other 

 hand, the planted timber, usually near or about the farmstead, nearly 

 always occupies a commanding situation on the higher slopes or the 

 uplands, where its extent, size, and prominence are considerably 

 magnified. Thus, the casual observer receives his impression almost 

 entirely from the planted timber. 



VALUE OF THE PLANTED TIMBER OF NEBRASKA. 



GENERAL UTILITY. 



The fact that the trees are located in conjunction with the farmstead 

 gives the planted timber distinctive value in several ways. If located 

 advantageously, it serves a very useful purpose in modifying the 

 climate of the farmstead. Climate is the sum total of weather influ- 

 ences. Wind, sunshine, temperature, and atmospheric humidity are 

 important factors. Whatever modifies one of these factors modifies 

 climate. The climate of Nebraska is somewhat rigorous on account 

 of wind and extremes of temperature, so that a regulation of these 

 features by any means is desirable. 



The benefits derived from a body of timber planted in connection 

 with the farmstead are principally the following: 



WIND PROTECTION. It gives protection from the Avind. This is 

 important at all seasons of the year. In summer, by checking the 

 wind, it retards the evaporation of moisture from the soil in gardens, 

 orchards, and near-by fields. In the same way it prevents the loss of 

 fruit and breakage of orchard trees and protects the buildings from 

 the violent gales that occur with great frequency on the plains. In 

 many cases trees alone have saved buildings from destruction by hur- 

 ricanes. 



Its value in winter is equally pronounced. At that time the orchard 

 is so susceptible to injury from high wind that the loss of the fruit 

 crop and even damage to the trees as a result of winter storms are 

 frequent occurrences in the unprotected orchard. Many orchardists 

 regard profitable fruit growing on the plains as dependent almost 

 entirely upon the protection of the trees by wind-breaks. Protection 

 to the buildings and farm animals in winter is also important. Unpro- 

 tected houses require more fuel than protected ones. Unsheltered 

 live stock of any kind require more feed than those which are shel- 

 tered, though the shelter be nothing more than a grove of trees, and, 

 even with increase of feed, unsheltered animals will shrink in flesh 

 during winter storms. Trees, properly located, will prevent many 

 serious losses of this character. 



SHADE. Plantations of trees protect the farmstead from the direct 

 sun, which is often extremely disagreeable. One of the most impress- 

 ive things on the high unsettled prairies in summer is the utter lack 



