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Windbreaks 
A. good windbreak will add more to the value of 
a farm than anything else for the same amount 
of money invested. And the investment in cash 
need not be large. There are many farm wind- 
breaks that have been planted without any cash 
outlay. Most farmers know how to grow willows 
from cuttings. Many farmers can go to the native 
woods for seedlings. In dealing with farmers, 
however, we usually find that they would rather 
buy the trees from nurseries. They say that it 
would cost them more to spend the time looking 
for and digging wild seedlings than the trees cost 
at a nursery. The cost of trees is the smallest 
item, the work of preparing the ground and keep- 
ing it cultivated is the important thing. It is no 
use to plant trees in quack grass or soddy ground. 
On farms where there is no windbreak at all, 
every effort should be made to get one started. 
Start with the outside, which shouid be plenty far 
from the yard so as to hold the snowbanks clear 
from the yard. In the Red River Valley are many 
cases of just one row of Chinese elm doing an 
excellent job of holding snow. On the outside of 
this row should be planted a row of lilacs or hon- 
‘eysuckle to act as a permanent snowfence in case 
the Chinese elm die out in time. The trees in 
these two rows should be planted about three to 
four feet apart in order to get quick and effective 
results. It is well then to leave a strip of about 
60 feet or more as a snowtrap between these two 
rows and the main grove which should consist of 
taller growing trees such as ash, elm, willows, 
and the row next to the buildings should be of an 
ornamental variety such as wild plum or crabs, 
shrubs, or evergreens, 
Box Elder—Although a scrubby looking tree and 
subject to bug's, it is still a good windbreak and 
snowfence tree because of its bushy growth. 
Grows fast when young. 2 to 3 ft., 100 for $4; 12- 
18 inches, 100 for $3.00. 
Green Ash—This tree takes the lead as an all- 
around windbreak tree. Whi-e it does not start as 
fast as a box elder, it gains gradually and surely, 
and is a very dependable tree. Green ash should 
be planted about 4 feet apart in a row. Distance 
between rows may be from 8 to 14 feet, de- 
pending on the equipment to be used for cultivat- 
ing. Our northern grown trees are sturdier and 
have a better root than the southern grown. 6-12 
inch, $1.75 per 100; 12-18 inch, $3 for 100. 
