6 FUTURE FORESTRY IN IOWA 



consequently decrease the producing capacity of the soil. In- 

 variably the man who cuts down the windbreak sees only the 

 decreased crop production in the immediate vicinity of the row 

 of trees and has never gone to the trouble to measure the in- 

 creased production which is affected, often to a distance of 

 forty rods to the leaward of the windbreak. His assumption that 

 he is being injured rather than benefitted by the windbreak is 

 generally erroneous. 



Observations by the government, states and educational insti- 

 tutions have shown without question that windbreaks of the 

 right tree species, when properly placed, are effective in conserv- 

 ing soil moisture during the growing season, by checking the 

 velocity of the wind near the ground surface. Actual crop 

 measurements have demonstrated that the saving in soil mois- 

 ture is directly translatable into increased crop production and 

 thus into cash. 



The windbreak for crop protection is one phase of forestry in 

 which the farmer should be most interested. With the rapid 

 increase in land values, crop production should be greatly in- 

 creased not only through better seed selection and improved 

 methods of cultivation, but also through the efficient use of the 

 windbreak. Instead of a decrease in the number of windbreaks 

 in the future, Iowa's farms will show a decided increase in this 

 protective feature, which will be in keeping with the spirit of a 

 more conservative use of the soils of the State. 



THE PLANTED WOODLOT AND SHELTERBELT 



The larger part of the acreage in planted timber in Iowa is 

 in the form of small groves varying in extent from one-half an 

 acre to three acres. In nearly all cases the woodlot and shelter- 

 belt are combined. The groves, almost without exception, have 

 been placed in such a manner as to give good protection in the 

 winter against the cold, northerly winds. In this way the farm- 

 stead has been made more habitable both for man and beast. 

 The earty shelterbelts were rightly planted to fast growing 

 trees in most cases for the purpose of securing quick protection. 

 Some, however, looking farther into the future either planted 

 longer lived species or at least supplemented the short lived 

 plantings with longer lived trees. The idea of having the shel- 

 terbelt serve also for the production of fence posts, poles, fire 



