18 



FRUIT GROWING FOR HOME USE IN THE GREAT PLAINS. 



VARIETIES. 



Perhaps the most serious question relating to fruit growing in the 

 central and southern Great Plains is the matter of suitable varieties 

 to plant. It is likewise one of the most difficult ]iroblems concerning 

 wliicli to make suggestions or give advice. To be successful, the 

 trees or other plants must be able to withstand severe climatic con- 

 ditions. The moisture supply is always scanty. The winds are 



often very drying 

 and may cause the 

 soil moisture t o 

 evaporate to a se- 

 rious degree. Dry- 

 ing winds also cause 

 large quantities of 

 water to be given 

 off through the 

 leaves. In some 

 sections the tem- 

 ]:)erature drops very 

 low at times. Wlien 

 all these conditions 

 prevail at once and 

 for any extended 

 ])eriod, a combina- 

 tion exists the se- 

 verity of which can 

 hardly be exceeded. 

 If there is no snow 

 on the ground at 

 such times to pro- 

 tect the roots from 

 very hard freezing, 

 the danger of seri- 

 ous injury to the 



table. It would Tie better if more of the lower, small secondary branches +rQgs ig p-reatlv in- 

 had been left to shade the larger limbs and trunk. , 



creased. 

 The varieties of the various kinds of fruit grown in the region under 

 discussion are quite limited in number. With few exceptions, the 

 plantings are young, so the merits of the different sorts that have 

 been planted are not yet fully determined. Under these conditions 

 it is not possible to make any very definite recommendations as to 

 varieties for this region. However, tlie following lists, composed 



[^'ii-. 51] 



Fig. 5.— a well-formed Ben iJavis apple tree, grown without irrigaiioii 

 near Littleton, Colo. The roots of this tree prob&bly do not reach the water 



