GROWING TREES AND FRUITS IN DRY AREAS 381 



when picking the fruit, and the hazard to it is less from 

 the blowing of strong winds. 



The cultivation must be enough to keep the ground 

 clean, to keep a dust mulch on it, and to break up any 

 undercrust that may form. This work may be done al- 

 most entirely with the harrow and disc. Owing to the 

 enormous fruitage of trees in the West, due attention 

 must be given to the thinning of the fruit, if high quality 



DRY LAND SQUASH, YELLOWSTONE COUNTY, MONTANA. 

 Courtesy Great Northern Railway Co. 



is to be maintained. This is especially important where 

 the moisture is not plentiful. In some localities fertiliza- 

 tion may be called for to maintain heavy and successful 

 cropping, because of the great drain on the elements of 

 the soil. Due attention must also be given to pruning 

 and spraying the orchards, but these and other details 

 must be omitted from this discussion for want of space. 



