SHELTER ON THE FARM.

Dominion, Issue 1337, 15 January 1912, Page 8

SHELTER ON THE FARM.

VALUE OP TREES AND LIVE FENCES. ' discussing tlio question of the need for the provision of skelter for stock ou jho farm, "Kusticus" writes as under in tho "Lyttelton Times":—The recent losses m shee|), owing to rough weather coining on them immediately after they have bcrai shorn, should mako farmers in open and unprotected country study the question of providing shelter on their 'farms for bad weather emergencies. No doubt many thousands of sheep wove saved owing to tho presciico of belts of trees and good live fences when the cold snap came somo\three weeks ago, and on tho other hand, there were somo very considerable losses owing partly to exposure. Tho cost of planting and fencing off trees is not prohibitive, but many farmers object to doing much in that direction because land is too valuable to bo occupied by plantations. But there are awkward and wasto corners and angles on almost every farm that could bo us;d for plantation purposes without withdrawing much land from agricultural and grazing purposes, and even, if a fewacres of good land have to be utilised for trees it is a mistake not to spare them. The plantation, will add beautv, and ultimately, value to tho farm if they are judiciously laid out, and it is very satisfactory to be able to turn a mob of sheep into a plantation after shearing if the weather looks threatening. Tho lee side of a plantation often presents quite a different climate in a rough storm, and if the sheep can wander among tho trees they will suffer but little harm even if tie rain and wind should catch them when their fleeces have just been removed, and they have probably had no time to get a good feed to help them withstand the cold snap.