Montana farmer-stockman. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1947-1993, 1956-05-15

ERUIT GARDENS are reality in the
- plains area of Montana. They are sue
ceeding and rewarding the gardeners with
fine ripe fruit in season. More fruit is eaten
when it comes from ones own garden. The
value of fruit in the diet is well known and
needs no further comment
Choosing site in a we'll protected place
is very important Water for irrigation helps
insure success in fruit production. However,
dryland gardens can be made productive
also. More attention must be given to selec-
ton of site for the dryland garden. A site
draining to the northeast, other factors
being equal, is preferable to site draining
to the southwest Then, too a northeast
slope can be more effectively protected
from drying southwest winds.
Shelter Needed
Protection against strong, damaging,
drying winds is must in the plains area.
Protection may be in the form of hills, nat
ural growth of trees and shrubs along
streams, buildings or trees planted for wind
breaks Several rows of trees and shrubs are
needed to make an effective shelter for the
garden.
Cold and drouth put fruit growing on the
difficult side, so choose only the harder
varieties First class stock of hardy varieties
from northern nurseries should be used. For
tree fruits, plant only l or 2-year-old trees.
1t generally is a mistake to plant older nur-
sery grown trees. 1t is much simpler to de-
velop low headed or bush formed trees from
1 and 2-year-old nursery stock
Some pruning of fruit trees is needed.
The first or years is considered the for
native period for trees. Special attention to
pruning is needed during this period Care
full early pruning and forming of trees gen.
orally does away with heavy pruning in later
years.
Some spraying will be needed to control
pests regardless of where the garden is To-
Gated. If trees, bushes and berry plants are
to remain healthy and produce we'll, they
must be kept free of pests. Rabbits and mice
are quite destructive some years and must
be controlled.
Hardy Varieties of Apples - Yellow
Transparent is ready for use about the mid
die of August 1t is quite hardy but suscep-
tible to fire blight Mantet is a red apple,
developed at the Experiment Station, Nor
den, Manitoba. 1t is ready to harvest in late
August and early September Beacon, also,
red apple, ripenS in early September. Red
Duchess ripenS in early September Wealthy
is one of our best known apples and one of
our hardest. 1t ripenS in late September and
early October. IT is a good variety to store
for fall and winter USE HARRISON is hardy
variety but does not ripen until late October.
1t is good variety for storage.
Hardy CrabappIes w hi t n is the
choice of many. 1t is good dessert crab and
equally good for cooking, preserving, etc.
1t is susceptible to fire blight but otherwise
hardy. 1t ripens in late August and early
September. Chestnut is large sized crab
of good quality and hardy. 1t ripenS in early
September. Dolga is small crab; its color
is bright red. The tree is hardy The fruit is
excellent for jelly and for mixing with other
fruit. 1t ripens in September. Hyslop is one
*E. E. Isaac is horticulture specialist, emer-
titus, Montana Extension Service.