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AGRICULTURE IN THE SEMIARID GREAT PLAINS. 



To make the homestead more attractive and to furnish shade and 

 windbreaks, everyone wants some trees around the house. Besides 

 the comfort secured from trees nothing adds more to the appearance 

 of a place, and in the whole region nothing is more conspicuous by 

 its absence from the settler's home. This is unnecessary. There 

 are hardy trees that can be kept growing anywhere in the region 

 where crops can be grown if they are given proper care. Wind- 

 breaks are valuable for the protection they afford to growing crops 

 and stock as well as about the house, and may also be made to yield 

 material for fuel, fencing, and farm timbers. They should be kept 

 thoroughly cultivated, at least for several years, and fenced from 

 stock at all times. The honey locust is one of the best varieties to 

 use, and has generally succeeded in the drier portions of the region. 

 The green ash is very hardy and may be kept growing, but should 

 be planted in the moister situations. In places it may be attacked 

 by borers sooner or later. The white elm is also very hardy, and 

 while not equal to the honey locust, is in general a more desirable and 

 more satisfactory tree. The black locust is quite hardy and a rapid 

 grower, but it is almost sure to be destroyed by borers. In some 

 portions of the Central Plains region it might be advisable to plant 

 Russian mulberry, Russian olive, and Osage orange. The Forest 

 Service also recommends the western yellow pine, the jack pine, and 

 the Austrian pine for this region. So far as present knowledge goes 

 this about exhausts the list of forest trees adapted for planting in 

 this section. 



Fruit growing on a commercial scale is not to be recommended, 

 but every farmer wants some fruit even if it costs him more in labor 

 than it would to buy it. Small fruits, including Early Richmond 

 cherries, plums, and currants, can be grown if a little special care is 

 given them. Strawberries may also be produced if a little water can be 

 secured. Frequently enough water can be spared from the well to 

 help a great deal in the garden or on the small fruit. On most farms 

 there are slopes where a deep furrow would collect considerable storm 

 water and run it to the garden, even when there was only a light 

 shower. Advantage should be taken of every such opportunity 

 olTered. Without a. garden and some fruit it is hard to call a place 

 home. Where ground water is available a windmill may supply 

 water for a garden. 



Two of the most prosperous and painstaking farmers of north- 

 eastern Colorado have worked out on their farms almost exactly 

 such systems as here outlined and have followed them for a number 

 of years with marked success, while a considerable number of pro- 

 gressive farmers scattered over the region are partially following such 

 systems. 



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