372 DRY LAND FARMING 



certain shrubs adapted to dry areas. These include li- 

 lacs, spireas and certain kinds of roses. In view of these 

 facts, the hope may be cherished that, ere many years 

 shall pass, the transformations in the appearance of the 

 dry country will be marked. 



Fruits suitable for dry areas. For the purposes of 

 this discussion, fruits may be divided into three classes, 

 viz., small, medium and large. In addition are vines 

 such as grapes. Small fruits are usually grown more 

 safely and more successfully than large ones, and chiefly 

 for the reason that the latter mature their fruit later, 

 when, generally speaking, moisture is less plentiful. 

 Nearly all varieties of small fruits mature somewhat 

 early in the season. 



Among the small fruits that may be grown with more 

 or less success in nearly all parts of the dry area, are 

 currants, gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries and the 

 sand cherry. The varieties will vary with location, hence 

 it will avail but little to name varieties, but as hardiness 

 is a matter of much importance in fruits grown in the 

 Great Plains region, it may be in place to mention some 

 varieties of proved hardiness. Among these are the 

 common red currant, the Downing gooseberry, the Turn- 

 er and the Cuthbert raspberry, and the Bederwood and 

 Senator Dunlap strawberry. The sand cherry and the 

 wild black currant are among the very hardiest of the 

 small fruits. All, or nearly all, of these mature their 

 fruits before the period of greatest drought. 



Among the intermediate fruits are the cherry, the 

 plum, the peach, the apricot and the date. These, ex- 

 cept the two classes first named, cannot be grown profit- 

 ably in dry areas west of the Rocky Mountains. The 

 hardy varieties of cherries include the Early Richmond, 

 the Early May, the Montmorency and the English Mo- 

 rello. Sweet cherries may be grown in many areas in 

 the Inter-mountain region. The plum has special adapta- 



