210 DRY LAND FARMING 



dener with irrigating waters has a tremendous advantage, 

 as he has also in the succession of garden crops which 

 he may grow on the same land. Under specially favor- 

 able situations, the truck gardener in dry areas may make 

 a success in his work, but, ordinarily, the dry farmer 

 should be content with a supply of vegetables grown for 

 home use. Some fruits may be yet introduced which in 

 other countries have shown ability to grow under ex- 

 tremely dry conditions. The olive industry, which has 

 been tried tentatively gives much promise of success. 

 This fruit has been grown successfully in some of the 

 countries of the old world where the annual average 

 rainfall does not exceed 10 inches. It is also possible 

 that the sycamore fig, the Chinese date, some nut-bear- 

 ing trees and also some other fruits, may be grown 

 successfully under equally trying conditions. It would 

 not be possible to forecast at the present time the extent 

 to which such fruits may be grown. 



Trees and windbreaks in dry areas. The discussion 

 will dwell: (1) on trees for shelter; (2) on trees for for- 

 est growth, and (3) on trees for fence posts. There are 

 areas in the arid country so completely arid as to pre- 

 clude the hope of growing on them trees or shrubs of 

 any kind. But the hope of succeeding with some varie- 

 ties may certainly be cherished where the rainfall is 

 not less than 10 inches annually. Where it is 15 inches, 

 success is assured where proper methods are followed. 

 As a rule the growing of windbreaks should precede the 

 growing of trees, or at least it should precede the planting 

 of the same. This at least is true of the Great Plains 

 country, which to so great an extent is exposed to the 

 action of strong winds. Trees planted to form wind- 

 breaks of the pliant order, as willows for instance, take 

 much less harm from the rocking of the winds when they 

 are young, hence the aim should be to have the wind- 

 break well started before planting forests on its lee- 



