OUR FORESTS 31 



region, where little native growth was found. In that section many 

 trees are planted in windbreaks, or shelter belts, to protect crops and 

 farm building from the winds that have a clear sweep across the 

 flat country. Today there are numerous prairie farms with wood- 

 land plantations, and with shelter belts of this type. Besides break- 

 ing the force of the wind, windbreaks and shelter belts tend to pre- 

 vent the soil from drying out quickly, give protection from the 

 extremes of heat and cold, and make the farm a much pleasanter 

 place to live. By checking the movement of the topsoil, they also 

 help to prevent local dust storms, and so greatly benefit farmers 

 living in sandy localities or where the soil is very fine. Like other 

 types of farm woodlands, windbreaks furnish wood for use on the 

 farm and for sale (fig. 19). 





F- 195205 



Figure 18. — Pine Timber Growing- on Worn-Out Farm Land in Mississippi. 

 Trees often thrive on land unfit for any other crop. 



To get the best results from his woods the farmer should adopt 

 the practices worked out by the forester and aim to produce a con- 

 tinuous supply of the best timber at the fastest rate. When he cuts 

 his merchantable trees he should leave seed trees and plenty of 

 young growth to form the basis of future crops. Only a limited 

 part of the farm woods should be cut at one time. Trees of the 

 less desirable kinds should be taken out and used for farm purposes 

 or sold. The smaller overcrowded trees and those that are crippled, 

 crooked, large-limbed, or diseased should also be removed. This 

 will allow light and growing space for the younger generations 

 fighting for a place in the sun, and will help them to become the 

 straight, thrifty larger trees that produce the high-grade and high- 

 priced forest products (fig. 19 B). 



Since every woodland cannot be managed to the best advantage 

 in the same way, the owner will do well to consult a forester as to 

 what his woods will best produce and how they should be handled. 

 He may obtain information of this sort from his local county agri- 



