PLAN FOR THE RED BEDS BELT. 



29 



Mountain oak. Quercus undulata) forms thickets over great areas of 

 the sand hills of this region, and along Starvation Creek, 3 or 4 miles 

 from the farm, there is a natural forest growth consisting of cotton-- 

 wood, collective, hackberrv. Mexican walnut, shittimwood, wild china, 

 and red mulberry. % 

 ■ The problem of the tree planter in this section is to grow wind- 

 breaks that will themselves survive droughts and prevent the thirsty 

 summer winds from absorbing the moisture needed by the crops. In 

 this part of the Great Plains every farm of 160 acres should have at 



PUBLIC ROAD 



Scale 'Un 



zl°Rods 



is 2000 ft aBove sea level 



Fig. 5. — Another plan for the Red Beds Belt. 



least 30 acres devoted to the farmstead, forest, and fruit trees; in 

 this case the planting provided for aggregates 35 acres, including 

 orchard and lawn. (See fig. 5.) These plantations are intended to 

 shelter the orchard and building site, and to produce fence posts 

 and fuel needed on the farm. 



The best situation for trees is in the draw which crosses the farm 

 from north to south. About 100 feet west of the northern end of the 

 draw the poorest land on the farm is encountered. Here fragments 

 of Red Beds rocks are found a foot below the surface. 



