PLANTING TREES AND SHRUBS ON THE DRY FARM 83 



ground, and the barn should be far enough from the house to allow 

 tor a good back yard and screen of shrubbery between the yard 

 proper and the barnyard. Do not be afraid of setting aside ample 

 land for the home grounds. Five acres, if well planned, is not too 

 much and a smaller space does not allow for good arrangement. 



PREPARATION OF LAND. 



The land to be planted to the home grounds should be well 

 prepared and fallowed at least one year before any attempt is made 

 to start trees and shrubs. The land should be deeply plowed, 

 and under most conditions fall plowing would be preferable. During 

 the following summer it should be well cultivated to keep down 

 the weeds and conserve the moisture. If it is not practicable to keep 

 the whole yard area cultivated, particular spots chosen for the loca- 

 tion of clumps of trees or shrubs may be given a good mulch of stray/ 

 or coarse stable manure. This will keep down the weed growth and 

 conserve the moisture. 



In plowing and working the land, avoid ridging it in places 

 where rows of trees are to stand. On the" contrary, the land should 

 be so prepared that the rains will drain toward the newly plantec 

 trees. Be sure to cultivate well the area to be occupied by the 

 orchard, the small fruit garden, the wind-break, and especially the 

 yard, if an attempt is to be made to grow a lawn. If rows of trees 

 are to be planted on the borders of the yard opposite the windbreak, 

 it will be desirable to plow and summer fallow strips of land at least 

 ten feet wide here. 



SELECTING AND BUYING THE PLANTS. 



Under such adverse conditions as prevail on our dry farms, it 

 is only natural that one of the most frequent causes of failure is the 

 improper selection of plants. The newcomer brings his ideas with 

 him and attempts to work them out under conditions entirely differ- 

 ent from those he is accustomed to. One cannot hope for success 

 in growing trees and shrubs unless he has made the proper selec- 

 tion of varieties to begin with. It is no doubt true that there is 

 much yet to be learned about selection of plants for Montana 

 conditions. But observations made in our own State and experi 

 ments carried on here and in other States, under similar conditions, 



