Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1878-10-24
MONTANA HERDS, FLocKs, FARMS AND
MINES.
The Lower Deer Lodge Valley.

The Lower Deer Lodge faIley.
One of the %pleasantest little towns on the
West side is New Chicago. 1t is located on
Flint Greek valley, OF the main road lead
ing from Missoula to Deer Lodge. Ii fine
farm land, large fields Of grain and com
Portable dwellings may be admired, then
this town has within its view much that Is
pleasing to look upon. The tow now has
two stores, two hotels, one blacksmithshop
and two saloons. 1t also has a comfortable
church and school building combined. i'll
which a district school is held through a
majority Of the months of each year. At
the Furgerson House, where | stopped, bus.
mess was good. Mr.. n Mrs. Ferguson
have been several years in business here,
and understand now to provide tor the com
forts of the weary traveller, and their house
is tirst-class. The good business this house
seemed to be doing, together with the
cheerful look the tow Wore, gave me the
impression that business here was generally
prosperous.
A short distance below New Chicago and
near the mouth of Flint creek, L crossed
over to the north side of the Deer Lodge
river. The river at this point is spanned by
Il Jew and substantial bridge. On that side
the valley extends from the bridge up the
river II or IA miles, is of the regular width
of about Que mile and slopes from the river
bank up to the mountains. That part of 1t
lying highest up is a strong, deep LINE soil,
and has no superior in the Rocky Noun
t;ins for the production OF cereals. The
first farmer called upon on that side was
John Edwards, who is located at what Is
known rs the old Packers ranch. This is
tile pioneer place in location Of this or the
Flint creek country. The improvements OF
the place are No. l in every respect. AT
the time OF my visit, MIR. Edwards, the
proprietor, was engaged in harvesting a
large crop of grain. His principal business,
however, is stOck-raisillg and dairylig, and
supplying the markets with several thou
sand pounds OF butter yearly. He has most
excellent facilities for butter making. Ills
butter rooms are as neat Is they could be
made; his churns are made after a mouerl
plan and turned by water power, ~anu ]
found the butter on his table as sweet and
good Is is to be seen in the country. While
at MIR. Edwards | made several notes which
are deemed valuable, II may be used here
after when [ haye time to write upon the
subject of butter making.
From the Packers ranch | continued my
ride along up the valley and next visited
the pleasant home OF y. L. Stark. This is
Indeed as beautiful Il place as the most fas.
Liuiuus could desire-one, too, that is rich
in soils and well adapted t" truit-growing'
Mr. S. has Il neat dwelling and yard, good
stables, corrals and well fenced farms. So
cheerful did every thing appear on the
bright sunny day Of my visit, that l could
not help longing tor such surroundings and
comforts as it seemed TO give. 70 large
yields OF grain this farm probably stands
ahead OF amy that have been recorded. vi
the large yields | may note the sowing by
MIR. Stark OF l25 pounds OF two row barley
on one and onc-half acres Of land, II ON
which he harvested and threshed 1917 bush.
els.
Two miles above Mr.. Stark's the route all
the way being continuous fields of golden
grain | halted at Benton Hoover's. This
gentleman is the champion gardner of this
section. He has two farms, one of them on
the same slope of MIR. Starks, and fully up
to it in the production of grain. On the
other, which is located along a small noun
tain brook, he produces the finest vegela-
hles TO be found in this valley. Mr.. II. us.