The Tree Plantation on the Prairie Farm 105 



"A limited number of trees and cuttings are sent out each 

 season from the Nursery Station at Indian Head, permitting on 

 an average distribution of from 700 to 800 trees to each ap- 

 plicant, in two successive seasons, making a total of from 1400 

 to 1600 plants. Beyond this the farmer must rely upon his own 

 resources for further developing his plantation. Planting ma- 

 terial may now be purchased at reasonable prices from common 

 nurseries operating in the West, or the farmer may quite easily 

 grow his own stock from seed or cuttings taken from the older 

 belts of trees." 



In considering the plan of planting for the protection 

 and comfort of the farmer's home on the prairie, two or 

 three things should always be kept in mind. 



1. The first purpose of the planting is to furnish shelter, 

 and therefore the shelter belt should always be on that side 

 of the buildings which will protect them from the pre- 

 vailing winds. Those from which shelter is most needed 

 are from the north and west, so the tree belts should be on 

 the north and west sides of the building site. 



2. Snow piles in very high behind any wind-break and 

 is likely to be a serious source of inconvenience about build- 

 ings. To prevent this the wind-break should be far enough 

 away to allow the snow drift to form between it and the 

 nearest building. At least one hundred feet should be 

 left to catch this drift and then no inconvenience of snow 

 about the buildings will result. Many people have been 

 prevented from planting about the house because of the 

 fear of snow piling too high. 



3. In a broad belt, which would be necessary if planting 

 were done for furnishing material as well as shelter, there 



