CHAPTER II 

 LOCATION, EXPOSURE, SOILS, AND WINDBREAKS 



THE stranger who is about to locate in the inter-moun- 

 tain states is often at a loss to know why all localities at 

 the same altitude are not equally well adapted to fruit- 

 growing. In a few favored localities peaches are success- 

 fully grown at an altitude above 6000 feet. But on the 

 eastern slope of the mountains no peaches are grown com- 

 mercially without winter protection where the altitude 

 is only 5000 feet. Occasionally crops of peaches are pro- 

 duced in the lower Arkansas Valley, and in some favored 

 localities on the plains where the elevation is much less. 

 But in general, it may be said that, as a rule, fruit cannot 

 be grown to any extent at an altitude much above 5000 

 feet, and at this height much depends on the protection 

 afforded by the mountains. 



Generally speaking, the fruit belt on the eastern slope 

 of the Rocky Mountains, with the exception noted above, 

 consists of an irregular area along the foothills not over 

 ten miles in width. Beyond this distance the limits of 

 the profitable production of tree-fruits at present are soon 

 reached. Success is due to the protection afforded by the 

 mountain range from drying winds and hailstorms, from 

 cold in winter, and from late spring frosts. Small-fruits, 

 which may be given winter protection, are grown in any 

 situation where the common grains will mature. 

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