TEEE CULTURE IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 41 



I would advise, therefore, that in planting belts of trees in the manner 

 referred to, not less than four rows of trees be made to constitute the 

 plantation, but more if deemed advisable, all in accordance with the 

 character of the situation being operated on. The trees should, under 

 aU circumstances, be planted alternately in the rows, so that when they 

 attain a fair size, a person looking at the plantation in any direction 

 cannot, if the trees have succeeded to e:^ectation, see the fields beyond. 

 This is very important where the object m forming plantations is purely 

 to obtain shelter from prevailing winds. 



In Fig. 9 I give sketch of a low-lying farm of 1,000 acres, showing 

 plantations and rows of trees along the fences and roads. 



In selecting trees for planting in belts or rows for shade and shelter, 

 it should always be borne in mind to choose such only as are of a 

 spreading and densely-foliaged nature. Trees of an upright habit — such 

 as the Lombardy Poplar and Upright Cypress — are, unless planted very 

 thickly upon the ground, , far from being desirable for this purpose. 

 Much, of course, will depend upon the soil, aspect, and general natural 

 features of the ground as to the particular kinds of trees which should 

 be planted, and care should at all times be taken to plant such only as 

 may be safely relied upon to do well upon the site. 



As trees put out in this manner have little or no shelter, and are there- 

 fore apt to become injured by the winds, I have to advise that they be 

 planted pretty thickly upon the ground, so that they may give one another 

 shelter. The best way to do this is to plant the trees which are to re- 

 main on the ground as the permanent crop, at about 24ft. apart, and to 

 fill up all the spaces between them with other kinds, which should be re- 

 moved as thinnings from time to time as may become necessary. Wat- 

 tles may very judiciously be used in this way as the nurses. Care will 

 have, however, to be taken to avoid allowing these nurses to encroach 

 too much upon the standards, as this would spoil their spreading habit, 

 and therefore make them imfit for the purpose for which they were 

 planted. Keep the nurses well together, but do not let them touch those 

 trees which they are meant to protect. 



Cultivate the ground as' deeply as possible before planting, and keep 

 the soil free and open about the standards for a good distance round their 

 roots. If this be done for a few years, the trees will grow rapidly, and 

 soon give excellent shelter to the lands around them. 



Do not attempt to prune trees which are required to form shelter of 

 this kind, but rather encourage them to assume their characteristic habits, 

 and spread out their branches as much as possible. 



