The Camas Hot Springs Exchange

CLARK-M'NARY NURSERY AIDS STATE FARMERS
2,500,990 TREES HAVE GONE TO THEM SINCE 1928, FIGURES REVEAL

From the Clark-McNary nursery at Montana State university to farmers in 52 counties of Montana have gone 2,500,000 trees since 1928. The yearly average has been about 325,000 trees sent to 1200 different farmers.

Born out of a law by the same name which provided for federal co-operation with the states in furnishing windbreak and shelterbelt trees to bona fide farmers, the nursery was established at the university in 1924. Its main objective, as stated by T. C. Spaulding, dean and professor of forestry at the university, is to assist the farmer not only by protecting his soil, but through preventing the evaporation of water from the soil to make better watering places for his stock and helping him to make the farm home beautiful.

Prairies to Bloom

When the water, through the planting of evergreen and broadleaf trees to form windbreaks and shelterbelts is held in the ground, the farm wife can attain success with any shrubs and flowers she may plant. Instead of a barren, windswept prairie, visitors to Montana may soon expect to see a countryside of green fields and attractive farm houses flanked by flowering shrubs. The shrubs, however, are not provided by the nursery, since its sole function is to supply farmers with the trees to make shelterbelts and windbreaks.

In Montana, the procedure of obtaining the trees is relatively simple. Farmers who desire the trees may apply to a county agent, who relays the order to E. E. Isaac, chief horticulturist of the extension service at Bozeman. From there the order is transferred to the nursery at Missoula, where it is filled and shipped out. Farmers may also apply for trees directly to the extension service, without the aid of a county agent.

Makes No Profit

Since there is absolutely no profit connected with the nursery, trees are sold at cost to the farmer, who also must pay for their transportation. Evergreen trees are sold for $1 per 100 and broadleafs cost 80 cents per 100. The federal government matches the state dollar for dollar in all expenses connected with the planting and care of the tree.

Dr. C. W. Waters, director of the nursery, states that orders begin coming in about Feb. 1, while the shipping season starts about April 1 and lasts two or three weeks. About one-third of the orders are shipped by parcel post and the remaining by express. Shipping costs are borne by the farmer to whom the order goes.

At the time of shipment, the evergreens are from three to four years old and stand from 8 to 12 inches high. Broadleafs may be shipped at the age of one or two years. The two types are mixed to form shelterbelts and are planted six or eight rows deep, with the broadleafs on the outside and the evergreens in the sheltered inner position of the shed-roof shaped belt.

Water Conserved

The belts are used to break the force of the wind and to form snow catchments which will prevent water from melted snow running off and permit the ground to retain it.

During the rush season the nursery furnishes a source of employment to many university students who need the work to enable them to attend school. The majority of these students are forestry majors, but they need not necessarily be that to receive employment.

The running of the nursery on a purely cost, nonprofit basis has been made possible largely through the assistance of government agencies such as the WPA, the United States forest service and the United States soil conservation service.

The nursery is part of the Montana forest and soil conservation experiment station and also part of the university school of forestry. It is under the direction of C. W. Waters, professor of botany and forestry at the university. C. V. Muhlick is nursery manager. E. E. Isaac, Bozeman has charge of the extension service which is located there.