Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1879-04-24

CuIC VII llAotAC LaIC OIlS Va q q So AAA
jority, and, in fact, all who have an abid-
ing interest in the future of Montana woods.
AMONG the many letters of inquiry in re-
gard to the resources of Montana, received
within the last month, is one from a gentle
man in Washington territory which contains
more i~nterrogations than was ever before
crowded intoia four-page letter. TO give
the letter and answer each question would
be too tedious to think Of. We will there
fore omit the letter and confine ourselves to
the main points upon which information is
desired. Our correspondent complains that
all the available lands in Washington terri
tory are taken except the railroad sections,
and that much of the land farmed is very
billy, so much so that it is difficult to run
machinery oyer it; that sulky plows and
header wagons upset while at work and
that it is only with great difficulty that ma
chinery is used at all.
There are thousands of acres of fine level
bench lands in Montana unclaimed. These
lands lie well for farming, just sloping
enough for irrigation. The valleys are
prairie; so also are the bench lands. The
foothills are ~interspersed with groves, and
the mountain ranges densely timbered.
Fencing and fuel can be had on most any
valley within ten miles. Some places it is
more convenient.
No country can beat Montana in the pro-
duction of small grain, either in quantity
per acre Or quality. Wheat, oats and bar
ley are superior. Some localities grow
buckwheat. Corn Is a1so produced on most
valleys, but we do not raise the big KIND
I like they do in the states. 1t is grown here
only for table use, and not for. horse or hog
feed, and only the earliest varieties are
grown. Vegetables grow in great album
dance, and are of fine quality. Our pota-
toes n be excelled; neither can. our
cabbage, turnips, parsnips, onions, beets,.
lettuce, .radishes, in fact, most everything,
even tomatoes and cucumbers. Melons do
not grow well except in favored localities.
All kinds OF small fruits groWto perfection,
so also do the hardy varieties OF apples and
pears. Peaches have not been tried, except
on the Bitter Root. The trees grow there,
but we have not yet seen any of their fruit.
Grapes do well.
Crops generally need irrigation tronllone
TO three times. Some lands need no frriga-
fion. Much depends on the location and
the season. Montana is the best grass coun,
try in the known world. Horses, sheep and
cattle fatten the year round on the range
without care, but hogs must be fed. Peas
are grown for hog feed, but other stock is
never fed except when worked, or in thickly
settled farming districts, and those left on
the range, to care tor themselves always do
best. This is a fact conceded by all stock
men.
Tale water Is excellent. Innumerable
clear, cool streams rush down from our
snowy mountains. and go laughing across
our valleys, affording plenty of water tor
all purposes. Land is worth only $l.25 per
acre, or may. be homesteaded.. I.aproved
lands vary in price in proportion 10 the cost
OF their improvements. Good water rights
are worth from $500 to $500. By eombina-
fip William Howitf. canals may be cut from
Maodermots,'' by Trvimmease. tracts OF
Mrs. Dorsey. .srreasonWatered. which
Beautiful Widow s.Edwaripidual to I'm
gue." They are the best, largees Of ssol /:
.. granite
e lanls.