18 FRUIT GROWING FOR HOME USE IN THE GREAT PLAINS. 
VARIETIES. 
Perhaps the most serious question relating to fruit growing in the 
central and southern Great Plains is the matter of suitable varieties — 
to plant. It is likewise one of the most difficult problems concerning 
which to make suggestions or give advice. To be successful, the 
trees or other plants must be able to withstand severe climatic con- 
ditions. The moisture supply is always scanty. The winds are 
often very drying 
and may cause the 
soil moisture to 
evaporate to a se- 
rious degree. Dry- 
ing winds also cause 
large quantities of 
water to be given 
off through the 
leaves. In some 
sections the tem- 
perature drops very 
low attimes. When 
all these conditions 
prevail at once and 
for any extended 
period, a combina- 
tion exists the se- 
verity of which can 
hardly be exceeded. 
If there is no snow 
on the ground at 
such times to pro- 
tect the roots from 
very hard freezing, 
Fig. 5.—A well-formed Ben Davis apple tree, grown without irrigation the danger of seri- 
near Littleton,Colo. Theroots ofthis tree probably do notreachthe water OUS injury to the 
table. It would be better if more of the lower, small secondary branches trees is creatly in- 
had been left to shade the larger limbs and trunk. 

creased. 
The varieties of the various kinds of fruit grown in the region under 
discussion are quite limited in number. With few exceptions, the 
plantings are young,so the merits of the different sorts that have 
been planted are not yet fully determined. Under these conditions 
it is not possible to make any very definite recommendations as to 
varieties for this region. However, the following lists, composed 
[Cir. 51] 
