The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-07-22
N D. FARMERS
ARE URGED TO
GROW FRUIT
Great Plains Station Opens
Campaign to '.Sell" Grow
ers on Fruit Culture

A campaign to sell" North Dakot:
farmers on fruit culture and farm
gardening as home builder will b.
launched by the Great Plains station
of the L. ). Department of Agricul'
ture, 1t was announced today by j
N. Stephens, director.
THE wheat gamble Of the north
west has ATTRACTED large numbers Of
temporary settlers who will return
east at the earliest sign of discour-
aeement," Stephens declared. 1T is
the aim Of this department 10 build
up home life by making home sur
roundings more attractive, and give
the farmer something more to live
for than the stakes of the game"
"A homestead well situated In a
belt of shade trees with an ample
garden and successful orchard will
accomplish far-reachIng results IN
anchorng farmers drawn into the
state by this years big crop, Steph
ems believes.
Every North Dakota farmer can
have IL fruit supply large enough to
supply ordinary needs Of the house
hold table for the entire year if he
will devote part Of his spare time
10 caring for u small sized orchard,
expe fermentation at the Great Plains
station Of the u. 5. Department Of
Agriculture reveal.
Plums, currents, crabapples, and
cherries have been successfully
grown on the Mandan experiment
farm, having been adapted to dry
land agriculture.
Hardest fruit to be cultured on
the Mandan lot has been plums,
which have consistently resisted kill
ing temperatures and arid mid sum
mer weather. A total Of 100 plum
trees more than five years old are
standing on the stations orchard eX-
pertinent tract.
Compass" hybrid between a
cherry and plum, has proved the
most durable and at the same time
the most prolific variety of fruit on
the Mandan farm. Terry" and
wolf" plums have registered heavy
yields over period OF years.
Hardest hybrid plums are CD
Emerald" (2) Red Wing" CD
'Waneta.'
,rabapples can be safely cultivated
on North Dakota plains. Eating
apples will not stand up under
northwest climatic conditions, ac-
cording to findings at the expert
newt station.
Gooseberries and currants thrive
on ury-land locations and do not re-
quire more than occasional care.
Nuts, including black walnut, butter
nut and haZelnut, will survive ex-
tremes Of North Dakota climate.
4. shelter-belt extending in ut least
two directions and preferably three
north, south, and VESTS indispen
sable to successful fruit orchard in
North Dakota, the agricultural sta
ton finds.
This belt may consist of box eld-
ers, green ash, and poplar, which
have proven peculiarly fitted for
northwest climate. Evergreens also
stand out as hardy protection
against winds.
Within the orchard area. clean cul-
tivation is recommended.
Weeds and grasses should not be
allowed to grow in fruit garden
at any time of the year." a depart
ment bulletin states. "CultivatiOn
should start in early spring and be
frequent enough to destroy weeds
before they make any considerable
growth
Fruit trees must be protected from
sun scald. which, if not prevented,
will kill an entire orchard during
one winter, according to department
tai findings. Overhanging branches
will protect the trunk Under-trim-
ming is not recommended for this
reason.