274 DRY FARMING 



229a. Artificial Protection. — The value of windbreaks 

 such as clumps of trees, hedges, fences, etc., is in 

 direct proportion to their height and extent. De- 

 pending upon the severity of the storm the land 

 adjoining such windbreaks is generally protected 

 from ten to twenty times the height of the wind- 

 break, although instances have been reported where 

 such protection is felt over a much greater dis- 

 tance. As a means of lessening soil drifting wind- 

 breaks are practicable only for small areas. No 

 doubt when shelter of this kind becomes established on 

 all farms the wind velocity will be lessened somewhat, 

 but the cost of planting and maintaining will probably 

 be found to be too great to warrant planting out enough 

 trees to make any appreciable effect on the wind velocity 

 on large farms in the open plains. "Where windbreaks 

 such as hedges or fences are used to protect the farm- 

 stead or the garden, an outer row, a few rods from an 

 inner one, should be provided in order to form a "trap" 

 for the drifting soil, otherwise the drift will accumulate 

 within the enclosure and become a nuisance in the carry- 

 ing out of the necessary farm operations. 



230. Miscellaneous Practices and Suggestions. — In fields 

 where the soil has begun to blow much can be done to 

 check it by going into the field and plowing either single 

 furrows or narrow strips of four to six furrows from 

 five to twenty-five rods apart, at right angles to the 

 direction of the winds. These raised portions act as 

 checks behind which the drifting particles lodge. This is 

 an extreme measure and is only advisable where a small 

 patch .of drifting soil promises to do serious injury to 

 adjoining areas that are not likely to blow if the drifting 

 material can be kept away from them. 



