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Price List 
NURSERY STOCK 
JOHN ROBERTSON’S NURSERY 
Hot Springs, South Dakota 
This View Shows Contour of Ditches or Terraces 
We took this place as a Homestead in June 1892. After getting a 
few acres of the best laying ground under cultivation, we plantgd the 
first apple trees in spring of 1896. We were advised by several who 
had settled in this section some years before, that it was a waste of time 
to try growing fruits, especially when depending entirely upon natural 
rainfall for moisture, that each one who had planted trees before had 
failed, and that I too would finally have to give up the effort. However, 
those first trees are still living and doing their share in producing, along 
with some 600 more apple trees planted near 30 years ago. During this 
time too, we have been growing currants, gooseberries, raspberries, plums, 
cherries and grapes in quantities for market; also in the later years have 
finally found some very goed quality pears that continue to live and pro¬ 
duce. 
I have no secrets in connection with the measure of success that I’ve 
made as a dry land fruit grower. One of my principal ambitions has 
been trying to give information and encouragement to the other fellow, 
so that he might at least grow enough fruit for his own family needs. I 
was one of a pioneer family, and seldom had a whole apple for myself to 
cat at once, when a boy. There is no time in life when fruit tastes quite 
as good, nor when we need it as much as when we are young and grow¬ 
ing. While I cannot become a boy again myself, it always gives me 
pleasure to see young folks eating fruit, either when working for me, or 
as visitors at the place. I* ruit is not a luxury, but a real necessity in 
proper diet. 
One cf the main essentials in growing fruit, is plenty of moisture. The 
only way this can be had through normal rainfall in sections where it is 
usually deficient, is by allowing much more than customary space between 
plants; so that the roots of each may reach far out without coming in 
competition with others. Soil water is taken up by plants more than by 
the sun and winds, so it is important that all vegetation be kept out be¬ 
tween trees or plants of our choice at all times. 
