WINDBREAKS Q 



winterkilling- is a serious factor .-in the management 

 of an orchard the greatest -protection does not come 

 apparently from the use of windbreaks. It is doubt- 

 ful if they ever mitigate low temperatures to any 

 important extent. They do stop the wind to some 

 degree, even in winter, and thereby reduce slightly 

 the evaporation of moisture from the twigs, which is 

 apt to be the greatest source of winterkilling. Per- 

 haps they are more useful as a means of winter pro- 

 tection from the fact that they usually hold the snow 

 on the ground. They also prevent the blowing of 

 leaves and such other litter as may help to hold the 

 snow, and which may give some protection. The 

 snow and litter thus retained on the ground protect 

 the soil from severe freezing, and from alternate freez- 

 ing and thawing ; whereas, without the windbreak, the 

 ground might remain bare, and the roots of the fruit 

 trees might be disastrously frozen in consequence. 



In most parts -of the. cojuntry the protection of trees 

 in summer is of vastly more importance than their 

 protection in winter. The mechanical strain brought 

 about by the pressure of excessive winds is often the 

 source of serious trouble to the orchardist. In ex- 

 posed localities or where heavy winds prevail during 

 growing time it is very difficult to secure a symmet- 

 rical top on rapid growing trees. It is a not uncom- 

 mon sight to see a young tree with the top all on the 

 north or northwest side, due-to the action of the wind. 

 A windbreak which prevents the sweeping of direct 

 winds across the orchard during the summer, more- 

 over, is of considerable he-lp in the conservation of 

 moisture. It has been shown by careful experiments, 

 and it is a matter of wide observation among practical 

 men, that the soil dries out very rapidly when the 



