Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1878-10-31


plorers. A few years ago no one. exceut
possibly some OF the inhabitants of Minneso-
Ia, dreamed that she would become one of
the flrst, If not the first, wheat-producino
state III the Union. Her crops this year
amounts TO between twenty five and thirty
million bushels; remarkable figures, truly,
out more astonishing still when we remem-
Der that a few short years ago large part
OF minnesota and Dakota was considered a
barren waste, where nothing could ever he
raised. This portion of these states was the
hed iilVer valley OF the North which has
within the last three or four years become
noted as the greatest wheat section of the
country. For wheat culture the experience
or the past two years seems to prove that
this locality is the most favored portion of
America. In parts of Iowa and Southern
Minnesota the wheat crop this year was al
most failure, while way up in Dakota, in
latitude AZ, aud not far from the British
boundary line. the yield has been abundant.
The Red River valley contains an area of
about thirty thousand square miles, making
1T about the size OF the state of Indiana. 1t
is about tour hundred miles long and will
average eighty miles in width. The soil is
a rich loan resting on clay. The plain Is
level and almost treeless. The landscape is
certainly not inviting, and travellers and ex-
plorers, among them Gen. Hazen, pro-
nonnced the country q worthless desert. AS
the latitude Was high, the valley lying be-
tween 46 and 50 degrees, every one thought
that the climate was too cold, and the seas
ons too short to raise anything. Besides,
there was little water away from the banks
OF the river, and nature seemed to have been
very spaling in bestowing gifts upon that
part of the world.
However, the Red River valley was set
tied by hardy race OF men who were sure
to prove ultimately whether anything could
be done With The soil or not. We do not
know who first ventured to SOW it with
wheat. The result must have surprised
him and his neighbors, WHO are now the
owners of wheat fields whose dimensions
vary all the way from thousand 10 ten
thousand acres. In some parts Of The val
Ky YOU SdA etttiiei iu u sea Vi WHEAT, cALSIlu-
ing as far us the eye can reach. The pic
lures drawn OF these immense wheat fields.
would hardly be credited; and the acreage
that has already been placed under cutiva-
iOn seems marvellous ior q new country.
both in the aggregate amount and in indiv-
ilnal instances like that OF Mr.. Dalrymple's
immense farm. Still. only ii fraction OF this
valley has been laid under tribute. 1t is
said that every acre Of the whole valley can
be cultivated, and that nowhere can ledges,
boulders or sand be found. Thus far, cX-
perienca has shown that wheat is q certain
crop in the valley and the yield is from
eighteen to twenty-five bushels per acre. A
little reflection will show what Importance
us wlleat-field this locality is likely to as
sumo in the future. Here is All area large
enough to form 4 good-sized state, almost
every acre of which is capable Of raising
wheat. Enthusiasts say that the Red River
valley can raise more wheat than the people
peal to figures to prove it. Such assertions
may appear very erroneous, but their yeri
fication is not beyond the bounds OF possi-
bllity. The history Of the past two Years
certainly seems to intimate that the great
whcat-lield OF the country is destined to be
the valley of the Red river OF the north
american Miller.
-Esn.---eea-
COOKING POTATOES FOR STOCK.