FRUIT GROWING FOR HOME USE IN THE GREAT PLAINS. 13 
The Forest Service® of this Department suggests for planting in 
eastern Colorado the green ash, the honey locust, the white and 
golden willow, the white elm, the Russian olive, and the Carolina 
poplar, and in the Panhandle of Texas, the black locust, the honey 
locust, the Osage orange, and the Russian mulberry. The latter, 
besides forming a dense wind-break, in favorable seasons produces 
considerable fruit that is much liked by birds. When there is a 
supply of this fruit at hand, it is said that birds will eat it in prefer- 
ence to cherries. Hence the planting of mulberries is frequently 
recommended as a means of protecting the cherry crop from bird 
depredations. 
Professor Longyear,’ of the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Sta- 
tion, gives the following advice about wind-breaks: 
For the taller growing tree in this region the common cottonwood may be used, 
setting them about 8 feet apart for the outer or north and west rows. A second row 
of some denser growing kind should be planted about 8 feet from the first and as close 
as 4feetin the row. For this purpose box elder is a suitable tree, except in dry situa- 
tions, in which case the green ash is recommended. ‘The trees in the third row may 
be planted in the same as in the second row, using a more compact-growing kind. The 
Russian golden willow is recommended for this purpose as a rapid grower. The 
Russian wild olive is a more compact tree of lower growth and is particularly desirable. 
White or American elm is also a suitable tree for the inner rows in many places, espe- 
cially where a fair amount of moisture can be depended on. 
In cases where the wind is exceptionally strong, it may be found necessary to plant 
a belt 4 or 5 rods wide in order to secure complete protection. The outer two rows 
may consist of Russian olive, the third and fourth rows of black locust, the fifth and 
sixth rows of box elder or ash, the seventh and eighth rows of American elm, and the 
inner two or three rows of cottonwood or Carolina poplar, the rows being about 8 feet 
apart. The golden Russian willow may be used in place of the elm, and honey locust 
may take the place of the black locust. 
If the wind-break consists of several rows of trees as above sug- 
gested the time will come in many cases when it may be possible 
to cut some of the trees for posts and other uses. This may be done 
whenever the trees are dense enough to give the necessary protection 
to the orchard after being thinned out somewhat. 
ORCHARD MAINTENANCE. 
CULTIVATION. 
In the semiarid central and southern Great Plains the most im- 
portant thing, so far as cultivation is concerned in its relation to the 
production of general crops, is the conservation of moisture. This is 
equally true in relation to the growing of an orchard and the produc- 
tion of a crop of fruit. In general, the methods and the tillage im- 
a Letter dated November 16, 1909, from the District Forester of District No. 2. 
b Bulletin 123, Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station, p. 16. 
[Cir. 51] 
