WIND-BREAKS 



the hist row of oirliaril tri'os, if possible. It is usually 

 best to use native trees for the wind-break, siuoe they 

 are hardy aud well adapted to the partieular eliniate. 

 Wind-breaks often harbor injurious insects and funf,'i, 

 and care must l.>0 taken lliat s|ie<-ies uf trees liable to 

 these difficulties be not useil. In tin- uoriheastern 

 states, for example, it would be bad practice to plant 

 the wild cherry tree, since it is so much infested with 

 the tent caterpillar. In some cases, very low wind- 

 breaks may be as desirable as high ones. This is true 

 in the open farniiui; lands in the dry regions, since it 

 maybe necessary only to check the force of the wind 

 near the surface of the ground. Wind-breaks onlv two 

 or three feet hii;h. placed at intervals, nuiy have this 

 effect. Fence-rows sometimes act as etlicient wind- 

 breaks. Along the sea-coast, gardeners often plant low 

 hedges for the purpose of protecting the surface of 

 the garden. Along the Atlantic coast, the California 

 privet is considerably used. This is Liniisl rum onili- 

 foUiiiii, a Japanese plant. In ]iarts of (.'alifornia, one of 

 the mallow tribe {Lurntent iisxin;ii)itii'l"rii . Fig. 27;!0) 

 is used for this purpose. Farms in the open windy 

 country may be eliiciently protected l>v belts ot wimkI- 

 land. or if the country is wholly cleared, rows (.f tre^-s 

 may be established at intervals of a (pmrter to- half 

 mile across the direction of the prevailing Avinds. 

 Pis- 2'29- L; H. B. 



Wind-breaks in Middle California.— The most eonmion 

 Tvind -break seen iti uiiddle (.';iliforiiia is coiiipi.isrd of 

 a tall thiek liedbri:- uf Munteruy C'ypri*ss ( i'lijircssus 

 macrocarpa) , either cLippt-d ulose or allowed to '^ww 

 naturally: it withstands heavy winds better than almost 

 any other heavy-foliai^ed tree and is rapid in its g'rowtb. 

 The Osa^e or:tng:e was at one time s(nne\Yhat exten- 

 sively planted as a wind-break, but is now rarely met 

 with. 



The Italians and Chinese, who have almost oomi^lete 

 control of the truek-g-ardeniug industry in and aruund 

 San Francisco, make extensive use of a Calif orniau 

 tree-malli.'W, Lavatera assuri/ciififlora . Fig. 2730 — as a 

 wind-break and protection from the drift-saud. which is 

 such a prominent feature of the ont.'^kirts of the city. 

 This plant is indigenous to some of the islands off the 



WIND-BREAKS 



1979 



coast of southern (.'alifornia an<l, pmbably, was intro- 

 duced into the Sai; Francisco p(.->ni]isula by the Mission 

 Fathrrs. as the pioneers of is.'il and '.">l: report that itwas 



1 , i , '/ 





2727. The Giant Reed— Arundo Donax. 



A tall plant of striking haljit suitable for wild gardens ;uid 

 bordt-rs. 



then growing spontaneously and in great abundance on 

 the sand dunes where the city now stands. This Lava- 

 tera proves to be well adapted to the peculiar conditions 

 under which it is cultivated: it stands long seasons of 



¥m^»^W9Spim 



-^^z.u^'-^mm: 



2728. A small wild garden at the rear of a building. 



