The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-24
BENCH LAND FARMING.

Results Achieved This Year That Give
Great Encouragement.
Great Falls Tribune: The present season
has witnessed a revelation, and at the same
time worked a revelation in bench farming
in northern Montana. The revelation con-
sists in the phenomenally heavy yields of
hay, grain and vegetables produced upon
the bench land farms, and the revelation
will be noticed in the increased number of
farms that will be taken up and the greater
acreage that will be cultivated. 1t is true
the season has been an extremely favorable
one for bench land farming. The rainfall
has been plentiful and fairly we'll distrib-
uted over the growing season. But no n
was prepared to witness the enormous
yields produced. For it will be understood
that the present year is the only one dur
ing the past three or four in which expert
msnts have been made in bench land farm
and vegetables have had a fair show, the
previous years being unusually dry.
But. rs stated, the results this year have
been surprising. In proof of this a few in
dividual experiences in bench land farming
will be noted. They do not differ materially
from others which might be cited. The
lands referred to lie between Great Falls
and Fort Benton. Thu sofia sandy loan
resting upon clay-does not differ from
that which distinguishes the bench lands
surrounding Great Falls. Alfalfa is grown
upon two farms. One patch of nine acres
was seeded several years ago by Mr.. W.. s.
Stocking. He has cut one crop this year;
he will cut another next month. The first
was cut in June. 1t yielded fifty-one large
loads. When cut it was so heavy UPON the
ground it could not be- raked. A load was
taken up from the swaths without moving
the Wagon. This may read like fiction, but
it IL absolutely true. The wagon rack was
of usual size and each was we'll filled. The
yield was not far from five tons per acre.
Another field of five acres WAS sown aIyear
ago last spring by MIR. Dnnie Dutro. 1t
took root and passed through the dryest
season ever known in northern Montana.
1t WAS cut last June and yielded six tons,
which were sold at $40 per ton. A good
crop could now be- cut, but it will be per-
mitted to mature for the seed. Alfalfa il
the most profitable crop that can be raised
In this section. 1t requires but one seeding;
1t will yield from two to three crops each
year. and will grow and thrive upon the
bench lands without irrigation or artificial
watering.
Mr.. W. O.. Dexter has 1876 acres of wheat,
oats and barley. One field of forty acres
was sown in wheat. The ground was new
and plowed sevon inches deep; narrowed
tWice with a disc harrow, once with u com
$3.50 HhAto"f soeu-ISO. L uuIu, DOuRuU a.
this place was drilled in and rolled. Th.
yield will DO forty-ive to fifty bushels pei
hcra OF as ine, plump wheat M was ever
harvested from the earth. Oats and barley
Will yield enormously. These yields aim
ply show that the bench of Northern Mon
tana Gun do with sufficient rainfall.
The finest of vegetables of all kinds arr
raised upon these lands. Excellent swee
corn, rich, mealy potatoes, beans and pens
melons. c~ucumbers, s%quasheg, tomatoes
cabbages, beets, turnips and rutabngns fin
their home in the rich loan of the bencl
lands. Hr. Dutro has three ncres OF TIL,
white navy bean. The yield will be YER,
large. bis sugar bests thrive we'll and hav'
tho true, succhnrino flavor. In fact. any
thing planted indicates tho adaptabiiity o
tho soil and climate of northern Moutan
10 lts highest development. Every vegeta
bic grown IN tho north temperate zon
noufihhss and reaches n point OF perfection
mere seldom reached elsewhere. This sen
son has shown what the great bench land
OF northern Montana can do under favor
able conditions.