Timbers. 



134 



August, 1908- 



height and the rapidity of its growth. 

 The tall shatts of the trees bend before 

 the wind and act as a cushion and deflect 

 it upward over an orchard, whereas 

 ordinary windbieak trees form a more 

 solid wall and the wind draws down- 

 ward, forming eddies near the leeward 

 side. 



Eucalyptus windbreaks planted every 

 quarter mile across level country will 

 give effective protection. Near the foot- 

 hills the belts should be planted closer, 

 since winds blowing down from the 

 mountains gather greater velocity. 

 Through orchards they should generally 

 be planted at intervals of about 200 feet. 

 Where winds are very severe, double or 

 treble rows of trees should be planted. 

 The best spacing of blue gum trees for 

 protective planting is 4 feet apart each 

 way. In double rows the trees of one 

 row should be planted opposite the centre 

 of the spaces in the other. The most 

 effective windbreak protection is secured 

 by a combination of Monterey cypress 

 and blue gum. The tree of each species 

 should be planted in separate rows 

 rather than alternated in a single line. 

 The cypress row will then form a dense 



understory, closing up the lower open- 

 ings left by the shed branches of the 

 faster growing eucalyptus. 



Objection is often made to the blue 

 gum for protective planting on account 

 of its wide rooting habit. It is true that 

 a windbreak draws much moisture 

 from the soil, so that the adjoining rows 

 of orchard are often rendered less 

 productive. Wide extension of the roots 

 may, however, be readily limited 

 without injury to the windbreak. At a 

 distance of from 6 to 10 feet from the 

 windbreak a trench parallel to the trees 

 should be dug to a depth of 3 or 4 feet, 

 cutting off the surface roots of the gum 

 trees. Such trenches should then be 

 refilled, but should be reopened every 

 second year.— Indian Trade Journal. 



In the above article no mention is made 

 of the valuable properties of the leaves 

 of blue gum and other eucalyptus for 

 boiler cleaning purposes. If a quantity 

 of leaves i« placed in wate^ in the boiler 

 and boiled, the decoction will soften 

 any hard incrustation of lime which may 

 have formed, so that it can be readily 

 removed.— Hon. Ed. — Indian Fores'.er, 

 Vol. XXXIV., April, 1908, No, 4. 



