INVESTIGATIONS AT ARDMORE, S. DAK. 45 



ity. The trees suffered more wind damage than those of any other 

 variety, apparently because the wood is more brittle. This plum 

 has not been so productive as the other varieties mentioned, but part 

 of the lower production may be ascribed to the destruction of fruit 

 buds by birds. 



FRUIT PRODUCTION 



Production of fruit in this section should be limited to production 

 for home needs. There are some favored locations where commer- 

 cial orcharding is feasible, and some locations in which unusually 

 able fruit growers have made a success of commercial orcharding 

 under ordinary conditions. For the average grower on the uplands, 

 the production of more fruit than is needed for home use is an 

 economic loss. 



The orchard should be small enough so that its cultivation is not 

 an undue burden. Such an orchard can be well taken care of with- 

 out hindrance to field work. Larger plantings require more time 

 for cultivation and other care, and are likely to be neglected when 

 field work presses for time. Unless an orchard is well cared for it 

 might better not be planted. 



No detailed study of small fruits was made at the station, but 

 several varieties of currants and gooseberries were found to be hardy 

 and productive. These small fruits should be spaced wide enough 

 to prevent crowding. Bushes 6 feet apart in the row and rows 8 

 feet apart is a suggested spacing. 



Suggestions for a selection of trees for a home orchard are as fol- 

 lows: Some early bearing plums should be included, such as Opata 

 or the Compass, that make up in earliness of bearing for what they 

 lack in quality. Opata is considered good quality for cooking on 

 account of thin skin, small pit, and flavor. These varieties appear to 

 be short lived and can be removed when they become unthrifty. 

 Selection of standard plums can be made from the varieties men- 

 I tioned as hardy. These trees should be producing well by the time 

 ! the Opata and Compass become unthrifty. Apples should be selected 

 - largely from the crab-apple group, because of earlier and more pro- 

 \ lific bearing. Anoka and Wealthy appear to be the most desirable 

 standard apples, though the Anoka may be short lived. Care should 

 be taken not to attempt to grow too many varieties or too many trees 

 of a variety. A small orchard, well kept, should produce fruit suffi- 

 cient for the needs of a family. If the orchard is small enough so 

 that its care is not a burden, it will be a source of satisfaction to 

 the grower, and the fruit will provide a much desired addition to the 

 j regular diet throughout the year, either as fresh or canned fruit, 

 i or in jellies, pastries, and preserves. 



SUMMARY 



The Ardmore Field Station completed 20 years of experimental 

 work in 1932. Crop rotations and cultural-method experiments were 

 continuous during that period. Other lines of investigation were con- 

 ducted for shorter periods. 



The average precipitation at Ardmore was 15.90 inches for the 

 21-year period 1912-32. Normal expectation is for drought injury 

 at some period of the crop year. 



