GROWING TREES AND FRUITS IN DRY AREAS 369 



In dry areas, as intimated previously, fruits should be 

 grown mainly for the home. This at least should be the 

 rule where the hazard is present that they may be in- 

 jured during the ripening period by a shortage in the 

 moisture supply. This idea, however, must not be 

 pressed too far, as in certain areas of the semi-arid coun- 

 try fruits are being grown with much profit without irri- 

 gating waters where the rainfall is less than 18 inches. 

 Parsons, of Colorado, has grown, with much profit, ap- 

 ples, plums and cherries, with a rainfall annually of about 

 14 inches. Nevertheless, the fact remains that where the 

 rainfall is less than 15 inches per year many fruits can- 

 not be grown so cheaply as to compete successfully in the 

 general market with the same fruits grown with a rain- 

 fall of not less than, say, 18 inches, or by the aid of irri- 

 gation. This, however, does not justify neglecting to 

 grow them for the home, even where much care must be 

 exercised to insure successful work. 



The amount called for to supply the needs of the 

 home is not large in any instance, hence the land devoted 

 to such use need not cover more than a small area, the 

 care of which will not involve great labor. The limited 

 area thus involved will make it quite practicable in many 

 instances to furnish enough water from a well and tank 

 to insure safe maturing in the fruit, should such aid be 

 called for. Many seasons it may not be needed, but even 

 in very dry seasons the farmer thus prepared may secure 

 a full supply of fruit. 



The wisdom of planting some fruits until a wind- 

 break has been started that will furnish some protection 

 for the fruits is to be questioned, but only under condi- 

 tions of extreme exposure. A windbreak, however, will 

 usually furnish some protection within one year of the 

 time of planting. Consequently fruits that are favored 

 by protection, may be planted on the lee side of a wind- 

 break one year after the planting of the same. The 



