CROPS THAT MAY BE GROWN IN DRY AREAS 209 



applicable to dry conditions. Nor has proper preparation 

 been made for growing them, as on the bench lands 

 where the winds blow freely and strongly it will be 

 necessary to grow them inside of shelter belts when 

 these have been provided. It will also be a decided safe- 

 guard where water can be readily obtained to have a 

 small reservoir supplied by the windmill which lifts the 

 water supply. This water reserve may not be needed in 

 all seasons, but in those that are exceptionally dry 

 it may be drawn upon, especially at that season when the 

 crop is maturing and when it is more liable to hazard 

 than at any other time. In some instances, grapes, if 

 grown, would have to be covered in winter, and in the 

 northerly areas it is questionable if summer frosts will 

 admit of the complete maturing of the fruit. 



By large fruits is meant such fruits as apples, pears, 

 peaches and quinces. Apples especially may be grown 

 in much of the semi-arid area, pears less well and peaches 

 only in southerly areas. Some good apple orchards have 

 been made a success commercially where the rainfall 

 averages about 15 inches annually. Under such condi- 

 tions, however, there is some hazard that the crop may 

 suffer somewhat from lack of moisture during the ripen- 

 ing period. Under other conditions, as when subter- 

 ranean water is near, this hazard may not be present. 



Much of what has been said of small fruits will 

 apply to the growing of vegetables, but of course it will 

 not be necessary to confine the growing of these within 

 shelter belts, nor is the severity of the winters to be 

 reckoned with as in the case of fruits. Nearly all kinds 

 of vegetables may be grown that belong to the temperate 

 zone, but not so as to compete successfully in the market 

 with vegetables grown under irrigation. This does not 

 apply to the early varieties, as many of these may be 

 ready quite as soon from non-irrigated as from irrigated 

 land. It is in varieties that come on later that the gar- 



