Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1877-02-15


county and in other portions of the Terrific
ry, from 81 900 to $4,000. and any amount
OF unmproved land suitable for farming or
grazing at Government and railroad prices.
Hay is found generally in abundance, and
sells at from $40 to $50 per tom Mr. Il. |
Reese, Of Reese creek, has often cut as high
as three tons to the acre. 1t is native
grass. mixed with timothy. Some attention
has been given by Mr.. Thorpe, and also by
Mr. Pease,< on the West Gallatin, as also by
many others throughout the Territory, to
the improvement of cattle, the breed intro
duced being mostly the Shorthorn.
Some fine ranches were seen on the banks
OF the Missouri in Meagher county, and also
in Prickly Pear valley, in Lewis and Clarke
county, in the vicinity of Helena, the capital
Of the Territory. Indian corn, although not
usually looked upon as a proftably crop, is
raised in sufficient quantity to supply meal
for family use. Mr.. j. P. Barnes, of Lewis
and Clarke county, produced last year as
much as 80 bushels to the acre, most Of
which was fed to hogs and turned into ex-
cellent bacon. Peas are said to be a profita-
bic crop and are rarely disturbed by the
grasshopper. They make good food in some
form or other for poultry, hogs and cattle.
Four hundred bushels of potatoes were.
grown to the acre by Mr.. Millegan, in Prick
ly Pear valley, near Helena, the past season.
Instances are reported where as many as 20
tons had been produced. Onions turn out
at nearly the same rate. Mr.. Turner, on the
East Gallatin, had a yield of $4,000 pounds
from single acre. AS the crops here are
often damaged to a greater or less extent by
the grasshoppers, or by hail storms, itwould
be advisable for farmers not to confine them
selves to small grain, or to some particular
kind, such as oats or wheat, as is sometimes
the case, but to SOW variety of these as
we'll as vegetables, III this way being almost
sure of having something that will bring a
good price in the market.
A GREAT sTocK-GRoWING COUNTRY.
In giving first impressions of Montana, in
letter from Madison county, its advantages
| as a stock-groWing country were highly
commended. Further observation and in
quiry have only tended to deepen the CON
vction as to the immense value and extent
of its resources in this respect. Bunch grass
takes the place of the sagebrush of Nevada,
and is found everywhere, on high table lands
or broad valleys, in deep ravines, on the
mountain sides, and may often be seen peep
ing up from the snow on the loftiest summit.
Bands of fat horses, cattle and sheep are en-
4 1yill Oi
500 head to 5000.
Some f1ocks of sheep have come IN recent
ly from California, which seem to be doing
well. There are at present not less than TO-
600 head each in the counties of Deer Lodge
md Lewis and Clarke, and not far from 2o,-
600 head IN Meagher county, and leaving a
wide range for many thousands more: In
fact, such is the nature Of the grass that il
i soon recuperates after being eaten down. II
grows from the roots and not from the seed
AS far as can be observed or learned, the
apparent rigor of the climate seems to be nc
serious drawback to the successful rearing
of sheep, while the wool is clean and pure
being entirely free from the dirt and burs SC
, often met with in much of the CalifOrni;
clip.
CHANCE FOR A RAILROAD.
1t must be evident that this Territory is
in many respects, an inviting field for tn
immigrant. Its greatest need is a railaoad
It is too much isolated and too far from mar
ket. If San Francisco should be the first T.
, omen communication she would at once Sc
: cure a large amount of trade that now goe
east nv way of the Missouri river. A wide