Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1878-02-07
SMITH R1vER-1Ts FLocKs AND HERDS.
NUMBER NINE.

gagged in the mercantile business in the Ter
ritory. Finding this too combining they
determined upon a more active life and in
vested in cattle, selecting this very excellent
location for their home. Their dwelling,
though frontier-like in appearance, is pleas
antly situated. The grassy ridges, which
fence it in and shield it from the strong
north and west winds, extend miles in every
direction, supplying them with am almost
fnexhaustable range for their herds Be-
sides their stock cattle they have Il dairy
herd with which, in the summer season.
they do a considerable business in the man
ufacture and sale Of butter
After a ride of seven miles across the
bench lands the next place reached was the
home of G.. w. Cook & Bro, the pioneer
wool-growers of the valley The first MOTTO
able improvement that has been made here
since my visit a year ago is their fine dwell
ing. 1t is bNilt in the shape of a L, of hewed
logs, gothic roof and long projecting caves
with bed rooms, kitchen and parlor con-
veniently planned. From the bay-window
in the east end of their parlor one has a
splendid view of the wide and beautiful vah.
ley, its homes, farms, flocks and herds.
The White Sulphur Springs. twelve miles
distant OF the opposite side, are plainly to
be seen, and the Castle mountains, just back
up toward the heavens, furnishing % resting
place for the last light of the setting sual
after the valley below is hid in twilight,
lends a charm to the view much to be adj
Mired. AS these gentlemen were the first
to engage in wool-growing in this Valley
and are now the largest, lit may be of inter-
est to give a sketch OF their business from
the beginning. In 1872 the original flock,
numbering about 1000. were bought a1aa
driven through from the Pacific coast, reach
ing Gallatin City in October, by j. e. Wahb
and G. w. Cook" After spending that win
ter and the following summer in the vicinity
of Gallatin City they moved to this place,
reaching here with a Little less than 900
ewes, having lost, Including the lambs of
that season, thirty-tlree per cent. of their
intire flock. Upon reaching here they gave
the sheep a thorough dipping, which, to-
SCUiACl WlUiN CilC TX" ldAiSCs SdHC CIfUIlL a
start, since. which time they have. cotfilst,ed
to thrive. I'm the fall of '73 Mr. Wahl sold
out his interest; Archibald McGregog, of
Anaheim, California, and B. B. Cook be-
coming interested i1n the. flock. Since then
the sheep have continued to increase, and
Notwithstanding 500 old bucks and ewes
have been sold the flock 10Y numbers 5000.
A pretty good increase when il, is taken into
consideration that the wv lambs were not
bred until a yearold. With the gain in
numbers. there has. been a marked improve
ment in the size Of the sheep, and in the
flength and texture of their wool. The first
two years they were bred to thoroughbred,
bucks, and since then they have
bred to ratas from Cotswoold ewes, got by
thoroughbred Merinoes. The first improved
IN size OF sheep and length of wool while
the last breeding has greatly improved. it I'M
;tineness. The sale of wool from this. flock
since the year 1873, Notwithstanding the
clip OF one or TWO seasons brought less than
twenty cents per pound in Helena, foots up
q total of a little above $12,0 900. Besides
this flock Messrs. Cook & Bro. are interest
ed with J. @. Hussey in the ownership OF a,
flock numbe, ing 5000 head which they pur-
chased about a year ago, and q flock num-
boring 1850 head, bought a few days since,
from A. j. Smith. They keep, their sheep
into bands of from 1900 to 5000
each, and have corrals and sheds erected in
different localities where the sheep range,
which they manage to change. and rest alter