138 



DRY FARMING 



and lower wind velocity. The frost-free season is short- 

 er than on the prairies and the danger from early fall 

 frosts and summer frost is greater. 



112, Character of Vegetation. — In addition to the 

 grasses and leguminous plants which usually occupy 

 the open spaces many species of shrubs and trees are to 



be found. From 

 the point of 

 view of the set- 

 tler the latter 

 may all be 

 classed as either 

 brush, or trees 

 of different size. 

 By brush is gen- 

 erally meant the 

 small shrubs 

 that may be cut 

 with a scythe, a 

 scrub hook or a 

 mowing ma- 

 chine, or which 

 may be plowed 

 under with a 

 heavy plow. The small trees are those that after being 

 cut with an axe or burned off leave a root which is 

 not too large to prevent plowing. The larger trees vary 

 from four inches to a foot or more in diameter and un- 

 less burning is practised these have either (1) to be 

 chopped down and the roots grubbed out, (2) to be 

 pulled over by horses or engine power and the roots re- 

 moved from the soil, or (3) to be cut down by brush- 



rig. 53. — Removing Small Trees with Tractor. 



