Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1877-08-30
moNTaNA's oRCHARD-THE BASS SSoAh'
ERs' FARM.

rrln most beautiful and best hHp'oNo'
t.,u III this section is owned ny Bass 4
| Bro, 1t j. situated u short mile SOUTHWEST
of the Bitter Root bridge aud aeo"l our
miles from StevenS>ilic, III all open beilc''-
land prairie surrounded by Il most oea"''''i
grove of yellow OF pitc. pine. the COM
mo1ioas dwelling stands back i'll the eose
of The grove. A clear stream OF water rip
niles near the door and across the silau'
ward which, Is neatly fenced and SET "l'li
grass, lined with pebbly walks, orhameltai
vines. shrubs and blooming roses. The
first thing that attracted my attention as
turned to look out upon the large gram
field. was the magnificent orchard. Straw
berries were ripcning. and Mr.. Bass hao
four men engaged i'll picking ana packing
them for market. My ramble from one
strawberry patch to another, through long
rows of goosebcrry, %clrrant, blackberry ana
raspberry bushes, all heavily laden with
fruit. among oak, ash, elm, walnut. chest
nut. locust. pear, peach, apple and craD APP
ple trees. was indeed a pleasure not soon 10
be forgotten. | need not here ennmcrate
! the OItll VGlICtltS VI VI ti'Ss
saw. 1t will be enough to state that every
variety of berries and nearly every plant.
shrub, and fruit tree that are to be found
tlonrisLing in the Middle States, are to be
seen in the Bass Brothers gardens and or
chards. The plum trees. and some of the
apple trees were so heavily loaded with
fruit that the limbs had to be propped and
tied up, while the grape vines. %currant, and
berry bushes were Utterly filled and bent to
the ground.
Besides fruit-growing. these gentlemen
have about five hundred acres of land in
cultivation, some seventy acres OF which are
planted in peas and the remainder in wheat,
barley and timothy meadow. They are
probably the largest swine raisers in the
country, their drove Of hogs now number
ing about 800 head. About half of these
they will turn into bacon this fall. They
feed mostly upon peas. using omc potatoes
and wheat III spring and summer, before the
early pea fields become ripe enough to turn
them into. Their experience in this bust
ness and the large scaie upon which they
t operate, enables them to get a good article
: Of bacon which commands the foremost
/ prices. They are also extensively engaged
: in raising other stock, and have a good
herd of cattle and Il fine band of horses.
! among which are to be seen some excellent
draft horses and mules.
5 Seven years ago w. T.. Bass came here
, with but thirty dollars capital. He located
t and stuck to business several years when
he was joined by his brother. Dudley Bass
They have grown up with the country. la
boring hard, early and late, until now they
have 4 home which has few equals in the
West. Their income from Strawberries
I alone this year will exceed 5000, and who.
they are gone. then will come the currants
and gooseberries. the blackberries and rasp
berries. of which they will have many bush
els. and will add several hundred to theil
0 revenue. Then will come the grapes anC
plumbs, and other delicious fruits. Some
e of my good friends may think that | an
$ partial to the Bass Brothers since | have
n dwelled at such length with them, but whel
they read what l have said and then come
and take 4 look for themselves. thew will
y doubtless say the Bass Bros. deserved it
5 Let them remember that those who have
plenty, have the best subject for me, anC
they that have fine orchards and fruits have
that which it IS ny delight to write about
Let 1t not be Slif that frat cannot b,
grown i'll Montana. An can raise fruit j
'hey try. and it is Il pleasure to state tha
MANY OF the farmers in this section are fol
t. lowinm i'm H.,