our fohests 35 



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

 good forestry practices which aim to produce a continuous supply of 

 the most valuable timber at the fastest rate. When he takes out his 

 merchantable trees, he should as a general rule cut lightly — never 

 clear-cut the stand — so that he can come back often for similar light 

 harvests. Thus he will always maintain a good stand of trees — capi- 

 tal in his woods "savings bank." Trees of the less desirable kinds, 

 the smaller, overcrowded ones, and those that are broken, crooked, 

 large-limbed, or diseased, should also be cut and used for farm pur- 

 poses or sold. This will allow light and growing space for the 

 main-crop trees, and the younger generations fighting for a place in 

 the sun will be helped to become the straight, thrifty, larger trees 

 that produce high-grade and high-priced forest products. 



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 Farm Forestry 

 Project representative, State extension forester, or from his State 

 forester. 



Most of the woodlands found on farms are of natural growth, but 

 in the prairie regions, where there was little native growth, some farm 

 woodlands have been planted. These plantations usually take the 

 form of field or farmstead windbreaks or shelterbelts which, besides 

 being a source of timber products, protect crops and farm buildings 

 from the winds that have a clear sweep across the flat country. Wind- 

 breaks also give protection from extremes of heat and cold, conserve 

 the water from rains and melting snow, and tend to prevent the 

 quick drying and subsequent blowing of soils. By checking the move- 

 ment of the topsoil, they help to prevent duststorms. It has been 

 demonstrated that 40 acres of trees planted in narrow strips cross- 

 wise to the direction of prevailing winds will protect 600 acres of 

 farm land. 



To help extend the beneficial effects of tree planting in the Plains 

 region, the Forest Service launched a special Prairie States Forestry 

 Project in 1935. The Service cooperated with farmers in the estab- 

 lishment of field and farmstead windbreaks, the farmer furnishing the 

 land and fencing materials and the Forest Service supplying plant- 

 ing stock and planting the trees. The work was begun only after a 

 Forest Service officer had looked over the proposed site, and had made 

 a favorable report on location, condition of soil, etc. By 1942 plant- 

 ings under the Prairie States Forestry Project had been made on 

 approximately 29,000 farms in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, 

 Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. 



The species selected for planting were, for the most part, those 

 which through many generations have become adjusted to the climate 

 and soils of the western Great Plains region. The planting stock 

 was grown in Government- owned nurseries or others leased for that 

 purpose. In 7 years, a total of more than 200,000,000 trees and shrubs 

 were planted in 17,000 miles of field windbreaks. Some strips planted 

 in 1935 were large enough within 3 or 4 years to yield several hun- 

 dred posts per mile as thinnings, without injuring the value of the 

 windbreaks in tempering the winds. The Forest Service believes 

 that trees will lessen the disastrous effects of drought in the Plains 



