The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1883-08-04
FRUIT CULTURE In MONTANA.

| Among the many examples o
the extraordinary productivcnes:
of Montana soil, the unusual sizt
of our small fruits is not the leas
noticeable. All observers have beel
astonished at the great size and fin,
! flavor of the black, white and re-
currants, plums, and different Der
ries that grow wild in various part
Of the Yellowstone country, being
III many cases, superior TO the eul
tivated article OF the States. .Th.
promise given by these wild fruits
has been amply fulfilled under cul
tivation, and Of late the report!
from the Yellowstone, Gallatin
Mlssoula, Bitter Roo and othel
valleys, Of strawberries lneasurins
from five to seven inches in cir
cumference, have become monoto
nous. This fruit. requiring con
slant supply OF water, can b,
grown to greater perfection by irri
cation than by the eastern method
and, with such advantages in sol
and climate. no doubt the Mon
tana strawberry will soon be recog.
nized as beyond comparison with
any produced in the United
States. The other small fruits
give equally good results, and
large fruits are grown to perfection
in the Missoula and Bitter Roo,
valleys.
Being at a lower level than most
Montana valleys, with most fav-
orable climate, and a soil unexcel-
led for fertility, the most compel
ent judges have decided the Vel
lowstone. yalley-and Clarke's Fork
Bottom i'll particular-to be ad-
mirably adapted for the production
of all fruits common to the tenn
perate zone, and have given en-
phasis to their opinion by planting
orchards Of large and small fruits.
Those that have had time to ma
ture give most satisfactory results,
and in all cases the growth and
healthy appearance Of the trees.
shrubs, and grape-vines, are be.
yond expectations
The Yellowstone climate, remark
able for mild winters, freedom from
early and late frosts, and the long
period of bright, hot sunshine that
marks each summer, is considered
very favorable for the cultivation
Of grapes. To these conditions are
due the agreeable boquet and high
percentage of alcohol in
the grapes OF those coun-
tries where wine making is a
leading industry, and it is quite
possible thai the present expert
ments may result in our beautiful
valley being dotted with many ex-
tensive vineyards and wine-making
establishments.
The very high price OF Montana
fruits will not be materially re-
duced for Years to come, and the
comparatively low cost OF mcr-
chandise, consequent upon the ad-
vent of railways, leave it possible
for the fruit grower to draw COM
Portable income from u small acre
age. We have heard OF gentle
man who clears an average OF
$1,000 per year from his fruit gar
den of 26 acres near Helena. Equal
success may be attained in this
neighborhood, and>the most desir-
able land, within two to four miles
from Billings, convenient to the
great irrigatins canal, may YET be
purchased at comparatively insig-
niticant figures, though a rise may
be expected in the near future. Ten
to twenty acres of this land is ac-
tually more valuable, and when in
telligentlv cultivated to fruits and
vegetables, will yield 4 much lar
ger and more certain revenue than
the average quarter section i'll the
States.