KINDS AND VARIETIES OF FRUIT FOR PLANTING IN 



THE HOME FRUIT GARDEN IN EASTERN 



MONTANA. 



By A. L. Strausz, State Horticulturist 



Eastern IMontana is by no means a fruit producing region. Only 

 in some favored valleys has fruit been attempted at all. However, 

 in many places where settlers are filling up the vast plains, enough 

 fruit can be produced to supply the home needs. An or<ihard, a cow 

 and a garden go far towards making any place seem like home, and 

 the orchard is not the least of these. 



The place for planting the orchard should be well chosen. The 

 soil should be the best that the ranch affords. The land should have 

 a gentle slope, preferably to the north and west, but sloping ground 

 is not imperative. Sloping ground will give better air-drainage than 

 level ground and the danger of spring frosts during blossoming season 

 is thus lessened. 



It seems from what information is available that the wind break 

 cannot be overlooked when planting fruit trees in eastern Montana. 

 The wind break will protect the trees from the cold winds of winter, 

 will help to hold the snow and leaves. During the summer it will 

 protect the soil from the drying winds and the trees and fruit like- 

 wise. The wind break should be planted at the same time the orchard 

 is set and must be composed of trees that will thrive in the region. 

 For this purpose the native cottonwoods are perhaps the best. As a 

 lower screen a row or two of the native sand cherry or wild plum is 

 excellent, as these trees or bushes will furnish some useful fruit. The 

 trees in the wind break should be planted closely together in order 

 that it may be effective when the orchard begins to bear. The 

 orchard trees should not be planted closer to the wind break than 

 forty feet. 



Among the kinds of fruit that may be planted with a reasonable 

 hope of success are apples, both crab and standards, pears, plums, 

 cherries, raspberries, currants, gooseberries and strawberries. While 

 this is not at all a comprehensive list a few plants or trees of each 



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