Circular no. 912 



January 1953 • Washington, D. C 



UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Tree and Shrub Species for the Northern 

 Great Plains 



By ERNEST J. GEORGE, silviculturist, Division of Fruit and Nut Crops and Diseases, 

 Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Research 

 Administration 



Climate 



Soil type 



Methods of testing. 



CONTENTS 



Page 

 2 

 3 



Presentation of data 



Tree and shrub species notes. 

 Recommended species 



Page 

 19 

 19 

 42 



*M wS^M wMxM 



Planting of trees and shrubs for protection purposes on farm and 

 range lands of the northern Great Plains is an important factor in 

 the establishment of comfortable and attractive homes in that area. 

 The plantings give much needed protection in winter to farm buildings, 

 livestock, and feed lots against cold winds and drifting snow, and in 

 summer against strong, hot drying winds that damage orchard, 

 garden, and other farm crops. The trees and shrubs attract birds, 

 which destroy many injurious insects. Such plantings also increase 

 the value of farm property. 



On the northern Great Plains, limited rainfall, occasional periods 

 of severe drought, extremes of temperature, a high rate of evaporation, 

 and strong drying winds during the growing season present difficulties 

 in tree and shrub growing that are unknown in the higher rainfall 

 and irrigated areas of the United States. 



Testing of species to find those that will prove hardy under the 

 prevailing climatic conditions is requisite in any planting program for 

 the area. Such a testing program was started by the United States 

 Department of Agriculture at the Northern Great Plains Field 

 Station, Mandan, N. Dak., in 1913 and was extended with the co- 



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