The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-05-02
How Wool Raising is Conducted on
Montana Representations
Of The Business.
Why Montana is Peculiarly Adapted to
II Money in it and How it
is Made.

''' 'i' '" thV IclI IIlSJ.
published in Chicago. and is from the
pen of a gentleman now a resident of
this city. Ed
The leading wool county in Montana
is Fergus county in the northeastern
part Of the state. Its area exceeds 10000
square miles and within its borders is in
cluded the famous Judith basin. This
is in oval shape, about sixty miles in
diameter. is comparatively level. with
very rich and productive soil. and is a
natural magnificent stock range 1t is
partially surrounded by mountain ranges
and the little streams heading in these
mountains make their way toward the
center OF the basin, where they empty
INTO the Judith river, a tributary to the
Missouri. Bordering these streams are
fcrtile valleys easily irrigated. which
make natural hay meadows. Security
against an occasional severe winter and
uccp snow fall makes asupply of hay de
slrable. In ordinary seasons this can
be cut on the uplands, but can always
be grown on irrigated lands.
montana grown ives are much pref
cradle to imported sheep. These are
nred 10 Mcrino rams. to supply which
heavy drafts are made on Vermont Hocks.
though many rams are imported direct
from France and Spain. An intimate
acquaintance with the business. AS car.
rlcd on in Montana. is Il requisite before
entering into the industry on a large
scale. The usual size of a flock is from
1000 to 20D head. After lambing and
shcaring are well over. the various
punches or tlocks are removed to the
summer camps. usually from four to
Ji,o ,nloln ne nome ranch
,n,t IN te',s anu rams are
ian.hns II'"ao .1chH anu on large
tho s.inn .. " !. STINT < are put
shn.n mom ~ Lo"r u.as ciiapllhs the
nrr md nuaIitn Z DcL'cl 'ec"r" ol the
LrrJ ;s ,in"n, III s'ecP; a shep-
MI :, tnn 'm"isr' anu ne Is pro
md s,rna camp ouill'' Il uoS
f. s,ny u,ith H. holse' anu Is expected
IN rni ~ ~ snecP oay ana night I'M
r. can1p Is located WIN
,ania 20 ~ "l' '''u' a corral rs
fn"n =, psi'"'rc panels OF fence, from
,n,,,r n.i hiSH' ABOUT loo feet
~ rLt =, ""n u, si''I are yardcd at
sSiai;t fn,n' Hcth 'he n'rdcr receives
!, ro,,oniaI Wv 'o,'f camp. Ills larder
'itt w., ilie man ornughl TO nm. and
In soas u,ptron VI! 'his eek visit.
,ootnr oA''P' al occasional pros
,crnss frnn, @ W. MAKING ms way
to 10 49,. ~ lahSc. ne Is eN- s
nn Lia L 9i .dil! RISER ana AFTER eat
NH g., tnI,a f. ~ preparing Il hOoh
- M his sntcp out ior the day, I
,mrt ia ra;ir 'ioscl! 50 as 10 pre- {
yitb wbi.h ~ Coyotes ana wolves,
leo n,nnntnir H., .'uItif "pouhos' n
nrlinr tnward frnsh "mlcn occasionally
A. n;ubt H. nho mutton '
.orraI ,nd .hn ehn liIe returned TO me I
,rnnr.rn 10 faup 10 MS teht' his t
imes Innoer anJ 'or slA months some
arnops t5.t Nv ~ not lnlre4uently G
thom I'm ~ ~ tt."la.ure winter SHOWS a
h h" .aeni sun at tne summer camp. At s
hpme ranch w Mn.er n &c return to n
nvad fnr w';ntar' Willy 'he 'eeu mas been s
aVea Ior winter pasture. For winter y
uariers the herder has a cabin and d
lc sneep a covered corral. The win s.
I. . =. nay is stacked adjacent to a
'"a'ai' put no use is made OF it eX
sN'Jpaioiiaily bao weather, or in
hnor urep SNOW Ordinarily the
,uaoP =. 'ahth OUT 10 iced each day, T
,nuo S '"hch III stormy weather to
y" ne morning against the
,e;Ir -, ia ~ return at night may be ,
,on nla:c,H peihS dlillcult to drive II
rurp AGAINST 'he storm. Crust seldom fo
y ~ III SHOW ana the deep SHOWS that of
3naiIE occur are soon removed by -
Nv o',inook a warm melting wind. On III
!, y. ,m''P rahches some use is made of A
H. Nua large ana heavy snow pillow. W
II Started out IN the morning, be- h,
al 'he entrance of the corral. A "
ulch VI nay is tied to the piOw, and the re
Yep attracted by the hay follow that. CO
i' soon begin to Craze in the track of az
le pioW. In case the snow is SO deep as 4
prevent this, they are fed hay at the m
lie OF li2 lbs per day per head. From ,o
us the nutritive properties of the bay ~;
m be Judged, as this small amount keens ha
IN good condition. ~
Shearing is usually done by profession 'n
who work their way from California n M
Tar east as sheep can be found in ouan- ,r a
to Justify their coming, a fair p y,
work to the man is l2j head. They ro,
lndle the shears, which are sharp as
zors, as a dry goods clerk does his scis-
rs IN cotton cloth, running them
rough the wool and seldom working -,
q handles to open and close tbou The e''