454 DRY LAND FARMING 



less amount of precipitation some supplemental water 

 may be necessary in order to insure growth in the late 

 crops that it may be desirable to grow in the garden. It 

 may also be necessary to perfect growth in small fruits 

 in a very dry time. Where a windmill is used to raise 

 water for house and stock uses, it may also be made to 

 raise it for some place of storage when it would other- 

 wise be idle. Under very dry conditions, therefore, it 

 may be quite feasible to establish and maintain a farm- 

 er's garden. 



In the semi-arid country, the farmer should not at- 

 tempt to grow a large orchard, unless the conditions for 

 the same are peculiarly favorable. Fruit for the home 

 should in nearly all instances be the limit of his aims. 

 A small number of thrifty trees of each species will 

 suffice. With 15 inches of rainfall in the year, or even 

 a little less, additional water may not be wanted for 

 the Avell-managed orchard. Should it be called for, one 

 application will usually suffice, but not under all condi- 

 tions. The most economical way of supplying water, 

 from the standpoint of the water called for, is by laying 

 perforated pipes below the surface of the ground and 

 not distant from the tree rows. This method of apply- 

 ing water is most economical and effective after the ex- 

 pense has been borne of supplying the pipes, an outlay 

 that should not be heavy. But to accomplish this, a 

 limited amount of reserve water is, of course, necessary 

 from some source. 



The home on the prairie cannot be complete without 

 the protection of a windbreak, and, if possible, of a grove 

 also. It is quite possible to provide such protection 

 without using any stored or reserve water where the 

 rainfall is 15 inches on average western soil, but to get 

 the trees started, and even to maintain growth, where 

 the rainfall is much less, it may be necessary to use 

 some stored water. In any event, supplemental water 



