FARM SHELTER BELTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19886, 14 March 1939, Page 15

FARM SHELTER BELTS

PROTECTION FROM WINDS DENSE PLANTATIONS The need of farm shelter belts for the protection of crops and pastures from drying winds was stressed recently in these columns, following the destruction of much of the Poverty Bay pasture during the drought, which was aggravated by the strong drying winds. Mr. D. M. E. Merry, instructor in agriculture, Nelson, makes an interesting reference to the same subject in a short article in the Journal of Agriculture.

"Recently the Nelson district experienced a succession of strong south-westerly winds, which have dried pasture, wilted both lucerne and clover, and laid cereal crops," Mr. Merry writes. "The work of the winds leaves no doubt that more shelter is urgently required especially on the wide open belt of plain.

"Trees and effective shelter are widely differing subjects. Trees provide summer shade, while shelterbelts are designed to cast the minimum of shade and give the maximum wind shelter both in summer and winter. Close, dense shelter, obtained by underplanting the taller trees, is what is required.

In general, it may be stated that the direction of shelteobelts in this district should be north and south, as the least shade will be cast over pastures and protection given from strong south-westerly winds. A good shelter-belt should present a conical outline, and should deflect the wind, giving complete protection for three to five times its height and partial protection for fifteen times its height.