368 DRY LAND FARMING 



as currants or gooseberries, may be grown without such 

 protection, but even these will profit by its presence. 



When live stock is kept on the farms of the semi-arid 

 region, as it will be in the near future, to some extent at 

 least, fences will be necessary. The posts will be one of 

 the most costly items of the expense where they have 

 to be purchased. This at least will hold good in the 

 Great Plains region, where the long distance of the trans- 

 portation will prove costly. Where these may be grown, 

 the cost will not be nearly so much. One acre devoted 

 to growing posts should furnish several thousands of 

 posts, varying, of course, with the kind. As several 

 years are called for to grow trees large enough for posts, 

 the homesteader should not defer planting longer than 

 may be absolutely necessary. The same may be said of 

 trees that are to furnish groves. 



What should be sought in fruits. When growing 

 fruits the aim should be (1) to grow only such fruits as 

 are likely to succeed ; (2) to grow them mainly for the 

 home; (3) to have some water in reserve to aid in the 

 proper maturing of the crop, and (4) to defer planting 

 no longer than may be necessary. 



It may not be possible at present to determine the 

 fruits that will grow best in the various portions of the 

 dry area, for the reason that this has not been proved, 

 either with reference to species or to variety, at least in 

 very many areas. It is known, however, (1) that only 

 hardy fruits will succeed west of the Rocky Mountains, 

 save in the southern portions of the same ; (2) that vari- 

 eties less hardy, but possessed of more valuable qualities, 

 may be grown east of the same; (3) that in southern 

 areas species will succeed that it would be unwise to try 

 to grow in northern areas. It is possible, therefore, to 

 select varieties to grow in a tentative way that will not 

 prove disappointing when grown. 



