3 6 



or straw or they may be heeled in the earth out of doors, covering 

 the tops with straw to prevent the buds starting. 



CULTIVATION. 



Trees demand a mellow, moist soil, such as is found in the 

 forest. They will not make a satisfactory growth if indeed they 

 live at all, in a hard dry soil, especially if it be allowed to grow to 

 grass and weeds. For these reasons the soil must be kept constantly 

 cultivated until such time as the trees by their own shade supply 

 the conditions under which they will thrive. 



The number of years that a grove will require cultivation de- 

 pends upon the character of the soil, the kinds of trees employed 

 and the distance apart in plainting. Quick growing trees like the 

 box elder planted in moist, mellow soil two by four feot apart 

 and kept well cultivated will make forest cover in throe years. 



On the other hand trees giving but little shade like the cotton- 

 wood will never make a forest cover sufficient to keep out the 

 grass and weeds, no matter how planted. 



VARITIES AND ARRANGEMENT IN PLANTING SHELTER BELTS. 



Trees for this purpose should be easily and quickly grown, 

 perfectly hardy and of dense, compact habit. All of these qualities- 

 may not be found in any one variety but a selection of three or four 

 kinds may be made to include all the necessary qualities. 



A single row of trees, excepting the evergreens, is n >t sufficient 

 to make a good wind-break. It is found that three of four rows 

 are required to make a perfect shelter. To give height to tlie wind- 

 break, and that as soon as possible, a single row of cottomvooda, 

 or preferably Carolina poplars, should be planted as the north row 

 of a wind-break running east and west and the west row of one 

 running north and south. As they will not endure crowding they 

 should not be planted closer than eight feet apart. 



This same distance should be maintained between the ro\vs. 

 The two middle rows should be made up of trees having a compact 

 bushy growth like the silver maple and box elder. These will en- 

 dure shade and may be planted four feet apart. 



The maple is a little harder to start that the box elder but 

 makes a better tree for the purpose in time. The two sorts planted 

 alternately make an excellent combination. 



The inner row may be of any compact growing kind like the 

 Golden Russian Willow or Russian wild olive planted two fort 

 apart. On high, dry soils, where the silver maple Is not a sue- 



