The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-07-28
GALLATTS COUNTY.

The large number of letters of inquiry
received by the citizens Of Bozeman and
Gallatin county from different parts Of
the United States has led to the produce
tion of this circular, which is intended
to cover all questions generally asked by
people DESTROYS of emigrating westward,
and at the same time save the laborious
and monotonous task of writing descrip-
tive letters to each individual DESTROYS of
securing information. The reader, how
ever, can scarcely form an intelligent idea
of the vast and varied resources of this
great and growing county, which con-
tains 5000 square miles and has within
its limits extensive gold, silver and
other mineral deposits, also the largest
coat and iron deposits found in the
Northwest. The great Gallatin valley
has long been known as the granary of
Montana, and the truth of this state
ment can be more fully realized when it
is known that of the e35 ,672 acres OF
land under cultivation within the terri
tory, Gallatir county has 19S,628 acres of
the richest and most productive lands to
be found within the limits of any state
or territory in the union. In arranging
this circular, the greatest care has been
taken to consult only the most reliable
statistics, the only object being to fur
nish those who contemplate moving west
ward to make permanent homes, with
reliable information.
lst.-What is thu principal industry
of Gallatin county? Agriculture.
The people of Gallatin county depend
largely upon agricultural pursuits. Al
most one-third of the farming land
under cultivation within the territory Is
in Gallatin county, the largest portion OF
which is in the Gallatin valley. This
valley ,or basin, including the lower
Madison, is estimated at 600 square
miles or $4,000 acres, of which Isl ,672
has been purchased from the govern
ment, which of course comprises many
of the most desirable locations. There
are, however, desirable locations to be
had under the Pre- emption, Homestead,
Desert and Timber Culture acts now III
force. also large quantities of the finest
lands in the county can be bought from
the Northern Pacific railroad company
at reasonable prices and upon easy
terms. or on the five year payment plan
with seven per cent interest per annum.
The bench or feot-hill lands require
irrigation, except for fall wheat, much of
which is not irrigated, even on the high
est foot.hill lands. The low bottom
lands along the streams are but seldom
irrigated Many experienced farmers
who have followed agricultural pursuits
from boyhood, with large experience in
the eastern, middle and western states,
after careful study of the subject OF
irrigation. and observing the advantages
derived therefrom. unite in the unani-
nous verdict, that better ana larger
yields can be had by irrigation in any
climate, especially in Montana, and all
prefer to irrigate. 1t is inexpensive, the
crop is thoroughly watered when it is in
the greatest need of water, the ground
is thoroughly and evenly saturated in
bright, sammy weather When the earth
is warm, quick, strong, healthy. even
growth follows at once, and good crop
and Weld is insured. The farmer has
no fear of drouth; farm laborer can
irrigate after the bitches are prepared,
which is generally done with pillow,
from to ten acres per day, thus making |
the process very Inexpensive Our
mountain valleys have great fall or
drainage and the mountain streams are |
very rapid, thus making the distribution |
of water easy. The irrigating season
generally begins about the Goth of June
to the LIST Of July, when the streams are
high and the waters Will be found bur
dened with vegetable sediment, carry |
ing with it also rich mineral fertilizer |
from the mountain sides, which is depos-
tied evenly over the lands, and is consid-
cred more advantageous to the soil then
any other fertilizer that could be used,
the use of manure or any other fertilizer
howevewer, is unknown. In Montana,
the soil being of rich vegetable mold
or loan, enriched by constant irrigation,
viii last for years; our best farmers,
however, find it necessary to summer
fallow lands occasionally, in order to
keep the soil free from weeds.
YIELDS PER ACRE.
An examination of statistics will show
that the average yield of all cereals in
the territory of Montana is much larger
than that of any state or territory in the
union, or even in the civilized world.
Mr.. Robert P. Menefee, Esq, one Of the
most substantial and reliable farmers of
Gallatin county, careful, conservative,
painstaking gentleman, furnished the
Avant Courier statistics from 1876 to
1882, the same having been published in
the Courier Annual, which we here re-
produce with additions, which Mr.. Meme
fee has kindly added for us. Mr.. Meme
fees farm is two miles south of Boze-
man.
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