466 Trees for Windbreaks. 
The most widely-planted shelter tree is the Eucalyptus 
globulus, or Australian blue gum. It is a rapid grower and vo- 
racious feeder, and wonderful for root extension, for which it 
has been roundly abused. It is doubtful, hotwever, whether we 
have a better tree for high growth, and consequent large area 
over which its shelter will be felt. It is deficient in undergrowth, 
and if a close screen is desired, the planting of eucalyptus and 
Monterey cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) is a common practise. 
The latter also attains good height, but its broad. thick base fills 
the gaps between the bare stems of the gum trees.. Another tree 
which has often been planted with the blue gum, to supply a 
thick, low growth, is the pepper tree (Schinus molle). It is also 
grown in rows by itself. It makes a dense head, grows rapidly, 
and flourishes without much care. Trees planted eighteen feet 
apart will soon come together and make a dense wall of very 
beautiful, bright, light-green foliage. The pepper is not only a 
good windbreak, but also an excellent dust-catcher. Unlike 
most trees which are used for this purpose, it does not become 
laden with dust. The leaves are smooth and glossy, and there- 
fore repel the dust particles, which, stopped in their flight by the 
dense foliage of the tree, instead of clinging to it drop to the 
ground. The growth of the pepper tree near the coast is much 
slower than that of the Monterey cypress. The eucalyptus and 
the cypress for the coast, and the eucalyptus and pepper for the 
interior valleys, make, probably, as perfect a wall of foliage all the 
year round as can be had. Tle blue gum is, however, some- 
what subject to frost killing, especially when voung, and in very 
frosty places is objected to on that account. A number of other 
species of eucalyptus are now being planted, and are being 
found more hardy than the blue gum. The folyanthema, 
amygdalina, and viminalis are of this character. 
The Monterey pine (Pinus insignis) is a rapid, high-grow- 
ing tree, and, though a native of the coast, has proved itself well 
adapted to the interior valleys of the central portion of the State. 
Its foliage is dense for a pine, and its shelter, therefore, the more 
complete. A native white cedar (Libocedrus dcecurrens) has also 
been employed as a shelter tree in the San Joaquin Valley, and 
is commended as rapid a grower in the interior as on the coast. 
Its ability to stand drouth, heat and frost is said to exceed 
that of any of the conifers of the seacoast. It stands well in 
the most exposed situations, as its roots run very deep into the 
earth, and it is claimed that it does not sap the fertility from the 
soil around its base, as with the blue gum. It is also said to be 
less subject to frost injury than the Monterey cypress and pine. 
All the foregoing are evergreen trees, and therefore afford 
protection summer and winter alike. Of deciduous trees there 
are many which may be well employed. The California black 
