42 BULLETIN 316, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
The native species are best adapted to this purpose. In all the 
regions mentioned there are to be found growing wild, even upon 
the sand, willows with which better success can be had than with 
imported species. The basket willow can not be recommended for 
this purpose, although in the less exposed and more fertile places 
they would perhaps grow very well. The white, crack, and yellow 
willows make a very thrifty growth in the sand where conditions are 
not too severe. Of the native species the black willow, the sandbar 
willow, and the laurel willow grow well in such situations. 
The cuttings should be from 12 to 18 inches long, the length de- 
pending somewhat on how much the sand dries out during the dry 
season. The rows should be run perpendicular to the direction of 
the prevailing winds, and from 6 to 12 feet apart, the distance depend- 
ing upon the slope and the intensity of the wind. The steeper the 
slope the closer the rows should be. The cuttings should be planted 
in the rows and as closely as possible. 
WINDBREAKS AND SHELTER BELTS. 
For windbreaks and shelter belts in the central prairie States there 
has been no more widely used tree than willow. When the settlers 
came into these States they immediately saw the necessity of pro- 
viding shelter around the farm buildings and planted such quick- 
growing species as willow, cottonwood, and soft maple, willow pre- 
dominating. The stock was easily obtained, easily planted and 
required the minimum of care. The returns from these plantations 
have been good considering the treatment given them. Many are 
now dead or decadent and the question is what to do next. The 
wise settlers have underplanted their willow groves or started other 
species to replace them. The majority, however, overlooked this 
important matter. 
For starting a grove or windbreak in the prairie region there is 
probably no better tree than the willow. It grows rapidly, is fairly 
long lived except on dry clay soils, has a fuel value on the farm, 
and reproduces vigorously from the stump. The green ash or white 
elm are more valuable, but generally should follow the willow on a 
barren farm. Cottonwood as a windbreak or as a nurse tree is no 
better than willow, but occasionally even on the prairies it produces 
a fair grade of rough lumber, perhaps better than willow. Because 
of its branching habit, its lack of clear length until the tree becomes 
quite large, and its fairly heavy foliage the willow is not surpassed 
by any other broadleaf tree in the protection afforded. Willows can 
also be thinned heavily with the assurance that sprout reproduction 
will rapidly take the place of the material cut out. In fact, such thin- 
ning is beneficial to the windbreak, as the f oliage is kept low and dense, 
and cutting back will often keep the row vigorous for from 40 to 50 
