MELON CULTURE. 421 
In this way, an abundance of both water and musk melons were raised, 
although no rain fell-after the 20th of June, until most of the melons were 
ripe and gone in September. 
The severe drouth made musk melons of fine quality, and some of them 
were of large size—one weighed 19 pounds and was 14% in diameter, 
the long way, with flesh 234 inches thick. The watermelons were of medium 
size and most of them of fine quality. 
For the central and north part of the state early varieties should be 
selected, and with good culture success is almost certain. 
FRUIT CULTURE IN THE BLACK HILLS. 
PROF. FAYETTE L. COOK, SPEARFISH, S. D. 
(Read before South Dakota State Horticultural Society at Parker, January 
18, 1900, ) 
Fruit culture is still in its infancy in the Black Hills, but enough has 
been done to prove that nearly all varieties of hardy northern fruits do ex- 
ceptionally well here. The climate is milder than in corresponding latitudes 
farther east. A temperature of twenty-five degrees below zero is almost 
unknown even here in the northern extremity of the Hills. In consequence 
of the milder climate, apple trees make a smoother, healthier growth than 
in any part of Minnesota or eastern South Dakota or even, perhaps, north- 
ern lowa. 
The great drawback is lack of water. There is a good deal of rain, but it 
is unevenly distributed through the season and, owing to the high altitude, 
evaporates so rapidly that a much greater quantity is required to produce 
a given effect than in the lower altitudes farther east. I have no faith in fruit 
growing of any kind here without irrigation, and the irrigated districts here 
are quite limited in extent. Many fruit trees died last winter, but observation 
convinces me that this does not occur where trees can be irrigated and ir- 
rigation is conducted with good judgment. Irrigation must not be con- 
tinued too late, and, more important still, the ground should receive a 
thorough soaking just before winter closes in. 
Thousands of apple trees have been set during the last three years, but 
there are few bearing trees in the Hills. Fortunately, half a dozen pioneers 
—notably Messrs. Thompson, of Rapid City; Geo. M. Trimmer, of Hot 
Springs; and Wells and Dorset, of Spearfish, began, from fifteen to twenty 
years ago, costly and intelligent experiments in apple growing, that have 
been continued to the present time and have thrown much light on the 
subject. 
It seems pretty well settled through the experiments of these men that 
the hardy summer, fall and early winter varieties, such as Tetofsky, Yellow 
Transparent, Oldenburg, Alexander, Wealthy, McIntosh Red and Longfield, 
may be confidently relied upon to live and grow, and to produce large crops 
of fruit of superior quality. McIntosh Red is deservedly popular in this 
neighborhood. It is one of the best members of the valuable Fameuse 
family, apparently about as hardy as the Wealthy, and an annual bearer. On 
the whole I believe the Wealthy to be the most profitable variety that has 
been well tested. It bears an enormous crop—in fact, overbears—every 
alternate year. The Longfield is a very early bearer and yields immensely. 
