FOREST T?EES, FH^ITS and VEGETABLES, 



CIIAKLKS A. KEFFEIi. HORTICULTURIST. 



This Bulletin contains suggestions for methods of planting 

 forest trees, street and lawn trees, orchard and small fruits and 

 garden vegetables, with notes on varieties suitable for culti- 

 vation in South Dakota. 



In April, 1888, a Bulletin on "Arbor Day: Why to Plant, 

 What to Plant, How to Plant" was issued by this Station. 

 Since that time thirteen acres of forest trees and about six acres 

 of fruit trees have been planted at the Station, and thus a begin- 

 ning has been made in sylva-culture and orcharding. 



The drouth of the past two years has merely emphasized the 

 need of a forest area in this treeless region. Nebraska planters 

 generally, and individual planters throughout South Dakota, 

 have conclusively proven that trees can be grown with less 

 moisture than corn. We must regard our trees as pioneer crops 

 to be established at the earliest possible time, so that the farm 

 fields may be protected from dry winds, and that- the snows of 

 winter may be saved for the growing crops. 



I have been interested in observing the action of groves as 

 snow catchers. During the last snow storm the small trees in 

 Station plantation, set in the spring of 1889 and averaging not 

 more than four feet high, caught the snow so that a drift two 

 feet deep and covering about two acres was formed among them. 

 The fields of the Station slope slightly from "the trees. After the 

 snow was melted on the open fields, the drift remained among 

 the trees, melting more slowly, because shaded by the tree tops. 

 As' the snow melted the water was absorbed by the dry earth, 

 and none was wasted. A more striking instance of the value of 

 trees as water-savers was observed in 1890. While driving 

 along a country road several miles north of Brookings, I noticed 



