INTRODUCTION 
Much of the arable land of Colorado consists of mountain 
valleys and other areas which are located at what is commonly 
referred to as the “high altitudes”. The growing season in such 
localities is short, and except for certain crops, is frequently un- 
favorable. Stock raising and potato growing under such con- 
ditions are often profitable, as the principles essential to success 
in these phases of agriculture are fairly well recognized. The 
same is not true, however, of some other phases, particularly horti- 
culture. Gardening is done, it is true, in a more or less half- 
hearted manner, and occasionally even small home orchards are 
atten^pted, but information as to varieties and methods of culture, 
which is needed to make such ventures successful, has not been 
available. 
With this in mind, it was decided by the Experiment Station 
authorities, in the spring of 1916, to begin some experiments in 
an attempt to secure information along this line. Accordingly, 
work was started both in agronomy and in horticulture. The writei 
was placed in charge of the horticulture work, and this bulletin 
is a report of the progress made to date. 
CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH EXPERIMENTS HAVE 
BEEN CONDUCTED 
The Fort Lewis School of Agriculture, a branch of the State 
Agricultural College, was chosen as a convenient place for carry- 
ing on the experiments, because of its situation near the mountains 
and at an altitude of slightly more than 7600 feet. Frosts are ex- 
pected there as late as June 10th and as early in the fall as Septem- 
bes 1st. Very light frosts may occur at any time, and the nights 
are almost invariably cold. The rainfall during the growing sea- 
son is sometimes considerable. In the months of July and Aug- 
ust, 1916, about 15 inches of rain fell. This condition, of course, 
makes less irrigation necessary, but tends to retard the maturity 
of certain crops. Heavy snowfall during the winter occurs quite 
commonly. 
The land set aside for the horticultural work is located on a 
bench on an eastern hill-side, thus providing fairly good protec" 
tion and air drainage. The soil is sandy and loamy in nature, and, 
while in a poor state of tilth in the beginning, is well adapted to 
the growing of vegetables and fruits. Water is available for irri- 
gation at all times. 
DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED 
Many difficulties have been encountered which have affected 
the results of the work considerably. The first year, due to a 
shortage of labor on the school farm, it became necessary to use 
inexperienced students in setting out a large number of plants, 
