12 FRUIT GROWING FOR HOME USE IN THE GREAT PLAINS. 
Strong winds are characteristic of the Great Plains—so much so 
that in many exposed sections the tops of the trees by its force are 
distinctly inclined away from the direction of the prevailing wind. - 
At most points this is from the southwest. To overcome the influ- 
ence of these prevailing winds the trees when they are set should be 
inchned somewhat toward the quarter from which these winds come. 
The direction for setting as given in one instance is to “incline the 
trees toward the 2 o’clock sun.”’ 
By leaning the trees, as suggested, the injury to the trunks which 
often occurs where they lean toward the north or northwest—that is, 
away from the sun, may be largely avoided. This injury is generally 
attributed to the intense heat of the sun shining on the exposed 
trunks, but it is probably more often the result of too rapid thawing 
in the sun after heavy freezing. 
The general principles that apply in planting fruit trees apply in 
regard to small fruits, etc.; hence, no special comments about han- 
dling them appear necessary. 
WIND-BREAKS. 
Another method of preventing the undesirable effects of the winds 
is to plant a wind-break, or ‘“‘shelter belt,’ on the side or sides of the 
orchard from which the prevailing winds come. A wind-break is 
made by planting hardy trees of some kind that will grow as rapidly 
as or faster than the fruit trees. It should usually be started at the 
same time the fruit trees are put out, unless the planting of the 
orchard has been anticipated and trees for the wind-break started in 
advance of the fruit trees. 
If the space is restricted, a single hedge row of some strong-growing 
tree will amount to something as a shelter for the orchard. But 
better results will follow if several rows of trees be planted. A 
common practice is to set at least three rows 8 feet apart and the 
trees 8 feet apart inthe rows. The trees in the different rows should 
alternate, so that in one row they will stand opposite the center of the 
space between the trees in the adjoining ones. 
A number of different kinds of trees are used in the central and 
southern Great Plains for wind-breaks. Mr. J. E. Payne,? super- 
intendent of the departmental substation at Akron, Colo., recom- 
mends the Russian mulberry, the black locust, and the wild Russian 
olive. The Russian mulberry, however, is not entirely hardy in all 
parts of the central Great Plains. In many places, seedling Russian 
apricots would probably be satisfactory to use with other kinds of 
trees and possibly some seasons when not injured by spring frosts 
they would produce fruit. 

2See Bulletin 130, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. 8. Dept. of Agriculture, p. 65. 
[Cir. 51] 
