Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1876-09-28

Leaving S%tevensville we proceeded t.
Mr.. Benz. Harris place, on Three-Mile, min,
miles northeast Of that place. Mr.. FL. has
good farm-yery productive and free from
frosts, and located in the midst of a splendi(
stock range. He has a good, two-story los
dwelling, comfortably arranged. Here we
remained over night and on the morrow
took alook about the premises. Mr.. Harris
has a nice little orchard and will raise the
largest crop of apples this season ever grown
in Montana. His orchard contains forty OF
fifty trees, seven of which are bearing fruit.
His crop this year will be from ten to twelve
bushels. The apples are OF good size,
smooth skin, w~ell-shaped, sound at the core
and of fine flavor. Some of the trees We're
bearing so full that it required props under
the branches to keep them from breaking.
Leaving here, we visited MIR. Thomas
Harris farm, a short distance off. Mr.. r.
IL. has also a very fine young orchard. We
noticed q number of trees which were bear
ing fruit. He has, also, made the mistake
fallen into by other f~ruit-growers in Mon
tana-that Of allowing the tree to keep
growing until too late in the fall. He has
twenty-five or thirty plum trees, several Of
which are bearing but are not heavily load
ed. Mr.. Ell. showed us his garden and
fields. His wheat crop is heavy and his po-
tatoes, tomatoes and melons are very good.
This gentleman is one Of the oldest settlers
OF Bitter Root, having come here in 1852
and made this his permanent home since
1855. He has a large, old-fashioned and
comfortable home.
From here we crossed rolling highlands,
to Major Whaley's, on Eight-Mile creek.
This is a good region for stock. Here we
crossed the river to Mr.. McClain's, where
we had dinner and took a look at his fine
Canadian stallion. In the afternoon we ar
rived at Missoula.
Sunday, continuing our journey home
ward, we reached Whitesides', at the upper
end of Hell-gate canyon.
Monday, it rained hard most of the day,
but we Travelled to VIM. Wallace's, on the
Lodge. This time We found Mr.. w. at
He showed us Il fine half-breed
PAchercn stallion, brought from Oregon
year.
Tuesday, we proceeded to Deer Lodge,
nd on Wednesday started for Helena. We
we're late in getting off; consequently, the
an was getting well down the western
lorizon when we reached the foot of the
Mountains. About two miles up the noun
ain we met a party of grangers from the
Pear, on their way to Little Black
GOT on a~tishing excursion. They recoo-
liZed us when we first hove in sight. and
commenced to wave hats. and landkerchiefs.
nd shout. Their demonstrations and the
neXpected meeting so completely won us
hat we could not resist the temptation to
etHrn to the creek and spend the night.
We had a delightful time and, although as a
we proved anything but a success,
e served as a good mark for the invalid of
le party tcr whose health and recreation
ne excursion was gotten up) to poke her
IN at. A gale of wind sighed among the
lstant pines, the t%winkling Stars went out
the heavens, as the sky became overcast /,
18th clouds. Upon the grassy bank of a
stream, in q COW where the will :
WIS shut out the wind, we built a r%ousino :
g campfire, and passed the hours until
re bedtime in merry conversation. When
lat hour arrived the ladies made a comfort :.
oie pedn the wagon, while the gentlemen =
tne party wrapped themselves in buffalo
'Des and slept upon the ground. /,
Next morning we breatasted upon trout. .
e1ongn we were not the lucky angler,
yer winch We bid adieu to our jolly friends, !,
irving in Helena before noon II +ha ~ -