The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-01
MONTANA FRUIT GROWERS.

They Must Prepare for Increased and
Diversified Crops Next Year.
The great stride taken by the fruit grow
ers in the vicinity of Miles City last season
in becoming large shippers of berries. cur
rants, watermelons, muskmelons, tomatoes,
and other products to western points has
attracted a a eat deal of attention to this
locality as a fruit producing center, says
the Miles City Journal, and led to an en-
quiry being made some weeks ago by S. l..
Moore, general freight agent of the North
ern Pacific railroad, as to what the facili-
ties were for such production. The en-
quiry was addressed to Jos. Eichorn, who
replied, giving a statement Of his own
work for the year past, and telling also of
others in this neighborhood who had
achieved good results in fruit culture. In
response Mr.. Moore has written the follow
ing letter to Mr.. Eichorn:
Your letter of the 31st ult, was received
in due course, and our s%olicito. has shown
it to several of the commission men in st.
Paul, who will keep track of the matter
next year. | hope you Will increase your
acreage, and persuade some of your friends
to plant the same class of fruits and vege-
tables, and the Northern Pacific co1npan
will do all it can to furnish you a market.
We want to see the Yellowstone valley i'm
proved and some one to start the ball q
rolling. do not think that any of the par
ties now Interested in growing fruit and
vegetables need have any fear of affecting
their own interests by drawing othars into
the same enterprise. because just as soon as
it ia known that you can raise the stuff in
large quantities buyers will understand
that they can depend upon your town and
locality for their supply"
The assurance in the foregoing that the
Northern Pacific company will do all it can
To fnrnlgh orr pfOWer6 n market. ~ n yary
satisfactory one. Situated as We are. with
only one rail outlet east or west, the ques-
ton of transportation has undoubt-
eddy discouraged in our fruit
and vegetable growers any idea of
an extensive outside market and the
product has therefore been limited to our
own small local demand. Last season the
wonderfully prolific growth of melons and
tomatoes induced some of our growers to
make experimental shipments to Butte,
Helena. Bozeman and other points where
climatic conditions prevent the cultivation
of such products. and with fairly success
full results, notwithstanding the local
freight rates. One thing that is particu-
lady pleasing was that wherever the
Miles City products were sold they
received the very highest praise from
the consumers, and the dealers in
every instance expressed themselves as
anxious to increase the handling of our
products next year. With the assistance of
the Northern Pacific people a large bust
ness can undoubtedly be done both east and
west next season, and for this reason every
one who can. by proximity to the irrigating
ditch, raise either fruits or vegetables
should arrange to do so, while those already
engaged in the business should follow Mr..
Moo els advice and largely increase their
acreage. If this is done We can in one year
open up a large trade and add new i'm
pulses to the prosperity of the town and
surrounding country.