Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-03-28

THE TARMERs' PRosPECT1.
The prospects of the Montana farmer
this year are very flattering, more so thai
they have been for a number of years past
: Here in the vicinity Of Bozeman no grass
;. hoppers have as yet put in an appearance
which they would surely have done er,
y this had they been in the country at all. al
the ground has been warm enough fol
some time to have Matched the eggs. The
mild winter we have had is almost certain
! to be followed by copious showers of rain
during the summer. requiring much LEST
. labor in irrigating than is usual.
The Government demand tor oats and
| hay at Fort Ellis this season is larger than
usual and will be let at much higher rates
than in previous years. as will be seen by
the abstract of bids in another column.
The demand for our produce is constantly
increasing from the country east of us,
and. the requirements from that section
will be larger this fall than heretofore, not
withstanding tho fact that large number
Of persons will engage in farming the
Yellowstone valley this summer.
We are informed that few farmers, be-
ing apprehensive of grasshopRers do not
intend to put in crop this season. We
feel confident that they will miss it. be-
lieving that the apprehension of destruc-
tive grasshopper raid this season has no
good foundation. In this opinion we are
sustained by Prof. {. v. Riley, Chief of
the L. 5. chronological Commission, who
made extensive observations OF the coun-
try between the Mississippi and the Rocky
Mountains last summer-especially south
of the 10th parallel and east Of the Tooth
meridian, the section that has been so sore
ly ravaged by the Rocky Mountain locust
since 1873. lie says the commission do
not hesitate to give it as their deliberate
opinion that there will be no serious injury
IN the region above referred to the coming
summer, and probably not for years to
come. 1--WE rest this conclusion, first, on
our personal examinations the past all-
tumn over much Of the country named
secondly, on the reports Of correspond
ents in said country (App. l4); thirdly, OF
the reports from the extreme northwest,
or permanent region. These show that
none of the insects of any consequence
that Matched in the temporary region re-
manned to lay eggs; that scarcely any eggs
were laid by the scattering autumn swarms,
nent region east of the mountains is like
wise remarkably free from eggs. =
That the insect will, in the future, again
pour down ut times from its breeding
grounds into the temporary region, unless
by the cooperation of the governments
interested. it is prevented from so doing
by the course yet to be discovered, there
can be no reasonable doubt. Yet, in pro-
portion as that country becomes settled
will locust-injury become more and more
easily CONTROLLED"
These statements are certainly very en-
couriging to the farmers of Gallatin val
ley and others, for the fact can be but ap-
parent to all that every available foot of .
cultivated ground will be needed this sum-
nlcr and should not be allowed to lie idle,
as there will be remunerative pricts for I
every pound of produce that can he raised.
And even if such were not the case and a G
large surplus should be raised, we could ,
make good use Of it. ?
The people Of Montana annually con- ,
sumo an enormous amount of bacon. that =
could, and should, he produced in Mon e
ana. Every pound of hog meat used in S
Montana could be produced here will, s
Profit to the farmers. and benefit to others o
IS well as themselves by keeping the mon e
y in the country that we are compelled to t,
end out to purchase this staple article. n
alley think that because we can not pro- :
luce corn to advantage the raising of pork
viii never become extensive here, but per-
APPS these men are not aware that, with
he exception of the cost of seed, an acre r.
f peas is twice as valuable to the farmer n
S an acre OF corn, the produce being more a,
D the acre and far superior for fattening "
imposes. Other advantages accruing to
ne farmer from raising peas are that the
,dder is not wasted, and he can raise two
rops of peas in one season from the same %.
round. 1t is one of the easiest crops II,
used. Sown and narrowed in the spring, m
needs no further care until the peas are
Ill and plump, when, before they are ripe,
nd while the vines are alive, it is mown a.
own, allowed to cure as hay is cured, and "
acked in The same manner. This is an '''
dustry inestimable value to the entire ",
erritOry, and we hope to see it encour- ~
red in every laudable manner and our :"
rners making success of it. u,