FOREST PROBLEMS. 159 



Answer:. He will probably come nearest to accomplishing 

 this if he makes a solid planting of White Willow, as recom- 

 mended on page 130. 



12. C. has a farm on rolling prairie. It is .all under cultiva- 

 tion or used for pasture. He feels the necessity of having a 

 home supply of fence posts and light fuel. Thinks of putting his 

 wood lot on the rich bottom land. The soil is a sandy drift, 

 some ridges being more sandy than others, and in a few places 

 are bare from washing. 



Answer: Since the bottom land resists drouth better than the 

 high land, it would be better to keep it for agricultural purposes, 

 and to place the trees on the ridges, where the soil is too bare 

 to yield a return from agriculture. He could probably plant 

 White Willow in these locations to good advantage, and get 

 what he needs in fence posts and a considerable amount of sum- 

 mer fuel. It is probable that on such land there would be a 

 yield of about three cords per acre of fuel wood per year, much 

 of which material could be used for posts. These trees should 

 be cultivated until they cover the land well. They should begin 

 to yield some fuel within six years from the time cuttings are 

 planted, if they are set two feet apart in rows eight feet apart. 



13. A farmer living on the open prairie in the southwestern 

 part of Minnesota wants a windbreak and wood lot; more par- 

 ticularly desires a windbreak for buildings and a shelter for 

 stock. Does not think of raising firewood or his own fence 

 posts. Can a windbreak be worked to advantage as a wood lot 

 in such a case? 



Ansiver: Under such conditions the windbreak should be 

 made somewhat wider than recommended on page 50, so as to 

 include as much area as to give the wood desired. In cutting 

 under such conditions it would be desirable to cut not more than 

 one-half of any portion of the windbreak at one time, so that its 

 value as a windbreak would not be impaired at any time. Work- 

 ing in such a way would require a rotation period of about ten 

 years. It would probably be best to plant this largely with 

 White Willow, but if the soil is heavy or somewhat inclined to 

 be moist it would be a good plan to put in some Soft Maple and 

 Boxelder. 



