36 ADVICE FOR FOEEST PLANTERS IN OKLAHOMA. 



than if the spacing were closer and equal -in both directions, while 

 the close planting in the rows will allow a large number of trees 

 per acre and consequently will be favorable to a high yield. 



As stated on page 33, farms laid out according to this plan should 

 have all the fence lines planted with shade trees, which can serve 

 the double purpose of furnishing Live fence posts and affording shelter 

 and protection to the field crops. For single lines the trees should 

 be planted from 20 to 30 feet apart. The best species for this purpose 

 on the uplands of the region are hackberry, honey locust, white elm, 

 and collective. Black walnut may be used where the soil is not too 

 dry. On bottomland.-, cottonwood — the horticultural variety known 

 as Carolina poplar — will grow most rapidly. 



For protection against wind it i- very desirable that the trees grow 

 a- tall as possible, since the distance at which a windbreak is effective 

 is directly proportionate to it> height. 



MODEL PLANTING PLAN FOR THE PLAINS OF EASTERN NEW- 

 MEXICO AND WESTERN TEXAS. 



The plain- of eastern New Mexico and western Texas have a 

 semiarid climate, the rainfall ranging from 12 to 20 inches per 

 annum. Natural forest i- almost entirely wanting, and artificial 

 growth is made possible only by a careful -election of the planting 

 site ami the use of die most drought-resistant species. Land having 

 an underflow within 15 Peel of the surface without intervening 

 rock may be suitable for the growth of forest tree-. 



Before planting an on-hard on the plain- it is necessary to pro- 

 vide a windbreak of forest trees on the south and west sides of the site. 

 A windbreak mi the north is advisable though not essential. In this 

 section it is especially important to make the plantations in the early 

 spring, in order that the trees may have lime to establish themselves 

 before the drying w inds set in. It i- best, however, to order the young 

 trees for fall delivery, a- spring shipments are likely to arrive too 

 hit*- for successful planting. A- soon a- they arrive they should be 

 heeled in and cared for a- described on page 13. 



Fig. 7 -how- practicable arrangements of windbreak's and other 

 forest plantation- Tor the farmstead on each of the four quarters of 

 tion of Hat land, every acre of which is tillable. Each planter 

 will need to supply hedge row- and other windbreak- and to adapt 

 and modify the plan to suit the conditions in his case. This plan 

 differs from that proposed for the Cross Timbers or Red Beds Belts 

 (fig. r») in providing a woodlot as well as windbreaks for each 

 quarter section. The primary utility of a windbreak is to shelter 

 an orchard or a residence site or to prevent hot wind- from scorching 

 the held crops. Incidentally it may furnish valuable material, but 

 in this region it must be established a- a permanent feature of the 



