200 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



He drank of the milk foaming fresh from th-e cow 

 He ate the ripe apple just pulled from the bough; 

 And lifted his hand to where hung in his reach. 

 All laden with honey the ruddy cheeked peach; 

 Beside him the blackberries juicy and fresh 

 Before him the melon with odorous flesh, 

 Then he had all for his use or his vision 

 All that the wishes of mortal could seize 

 Then when he lay in a country Elysian 

 Happily, dreamily, under the trees." 



HORTICULTURE IN THE NORTH PLATTE VALLEY. 



MAX PFAENDER, U. S. EXrEIilMFNT STATION, MITCHELL, NEB. 



On the North Platte river there is a considerable area which is or 

 will be under irrigation. Here we want horticulture to gain a foothold 

 and thrive in its various branches. Before this area was irrigated, 

 horticulture could not develop on account of lack of moisture. Being 

 supplied with sufficient water now our worst hindrances are the strong 

 and drying winds and the lack of winter moisture. 



In such a climate as we have here we must develop a horticulture of 

 our own. Various factors will assist in such a development. For fruits 

 and ornamental plants we must go to our native species first, put 

 Them under cultivation and cross them with our hardiest varieties. If 

 we graft trees we should see that we have hardy stocks. The same is 

 true of nursery stock, the root should be hardy. Top-grafted apple ti'ees 

 are very desirable if the stock is the Hibernal apple or the Virginia crab. 

 Budded apple trees should not be bought. It is best to buy grafted trees 

 and if possible trees should be secured that have been grown from 

 long scion grafts. 



Apple and other trees liable to root-killing should be planted four to 

 six inches deeper than they stood in the nursery. These are some of 

 the precautions against root-killing. 



Winter-killing, both in branch and in root is often nothing but actual 

 drying out. In this section plants and trees can very often be insured 

 against winter-killing by a late irrigation or watering. This application 

 of water should be made after the leaves are off the trees and before 

 the ground freezes deeply. 



The only way to contend with our severe and harmful winds and to 

 protect ourselves against them is to plant good wind-breaks. On farms, 

 the orchard, garden, stockyard and home gi'ounds should all be sur- 

 rounded by a good wind-break. Such a wind-break should consist of 

 from five to ten rows or more of trees including the following kinds: 

 Cottonwood or Norway poplars, willows, green ash and hackberry. The 

 nearest row of trees should be at least two rods from orchard or 

 building. 



