Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1873-10-02
Correspondence of the Pittsburgh Gazette.

HELENA, M. T., August rs, 1878.
promised in my last to mention some OF
the products Of the Territory. have found
information in regard to this, owing to the
lack of statistics 1t is very evident to the
casual observer that nature is most bountiful
in this favored region, and to judge'by the
common conversation of those who have
made their home here, and who are deter
mined to ''stick to the country one would
think that all that is required is to settle, and
either scratch the ground and raise an i'm
mense crop, or 60 out into the mountains and
discover an everlasting fortune in some con-
venient gold, silver or copper mine In fact,
one hears great deal of exaggeration all
through this western country, and every To-
cality is considered the very best by those
Immediately interested, destined at some
near future day to be a great centre, and a
rich and busy community. In this respect
many Montanians make great mistake; for
plain statement is quite sufficient to show
other portion of the northwest, exaggeration
being unnecessary, frequently leading to en-
tire disbelief, and to many disappOintments.
The agricultural products of the valleys
are truly astonishing. AT the Territorial
Fair, held at Helena last September, j. l..
Ray, of Lewis and Clarke county, was
awarded the first premium for best crop of
wheat, averaging 1O2 bushels to the acre.
Forbis and Burson were awarded premiums
for best barley, averaging 1874 bushels to the
acre; best oats, 1Ol bushels; best potatoes,
G13 bushels. The best single acre of wheat
was 13O bushels. These figures look large
but they were all sworn to by disinterested
parties, as required by the regulations of the
Agricultural Society, and the appearance of
growing crops would warrant the yield claim
ed. l think that fair estimate of the aver-
age wheat crop of the Territory would be
from 80 to 40 bushels to the acre. Corn is
not a success, the seasons being too short and
the nights too cold for its development, al
though some little is raised of an inferior
quality. All sorts of garden roots, such as
onions, turrips, carrots, beats, ETC., and peas,
beans, tomatoes, cabbage, cucumbers, and
MELONS, grow enormously large, and are of
excellent flavor, while potatoes, as rule, are
much finer than any we get in the States.
Until about four years ago, it was thought
that the climate was too rugged for the cul-
ture of fruit and flowers, but now many
gardens are blooming with flowers in almost
US great variety as we have in the States;
and it has been demonstrated that the harder
fruits, such as apples, pears, plums and cher
ries, do remarkably well in this soil and eli
mate. In the valley Of the Stinkingwater
there is an apple orchard of about one hun
dred and fifty trees, one hundred of them
bearing good crop this season for the first
time Trials have been made with grapes
and peaches, some with fair promise of sue
cess, but in most instances failure was the re-
suit. Experience would say that such tender
fruits cannot succeed except in one or two
warmer and more protected valleys, which
are small in extent. The only fruit in the
market now comes from Utah and CalifOr
MIA, over the railroad and stage routes. Ap-
pies are selling at twenty-five cents per pound.
Peaches, pears and plums at seventy-ive
cents, whilst single pear or peach costs
twenty-five cents, and l have paid fifty cents
for anice early pear. However, do not
think there are many of them used. have
not observed any cider mills in the country(?)
When a market can be obtained Tor the
product, that is, when railroads bring the
eastern markets within accessibility to the
Territory, stock raising will be a most prof.
table industry. Not only are the open plains
and prairies covered with excellent grass, but
the smooth hills and the naked mountain
slopes, and even reaches beyond, far up into
the timber, have the same covering.
Wherever fire has swept the mountain
side. destroying the pine trees, Leaving the
blackened stems and stumps to marx the place
where the forest has been, there springs up
tall, green, and exceedingly nutritious grass,
covering every spot trayersed by the nre.
Here, as in the other parts OF this western
country, the grass, instead OF rottine' cures
Oh the ground, remaining in this state all
winter furniShinr a hotter food than III cut