The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-21

a total acreage of {. 600 acres, being Is BUSH
els OF whoAt or oats to the acre. Potatoes
average 400 bushes to the acre, n ara aa
fine as are grown in any country, while the
ordinary winter vegetables are grown in
about the Same ratio. Year in and year out
oats will average the farmer 80 cants n
bushel. Every quarter section put in oats
will return 81. 400. OF course. some far
mers produce more than ifty-fve bushels
per acre. but very few report a less yield.
Soft wheat averages the farmer Is cents a
bushel and hard SIS cents. Potatoes average
the farmer about 80 cents a bushel.
While the Gallatin valley has achieved
its greatest reputation as m agricultural
section on account OF the fertility of its
grain fields, it must not be supposed that
its soil and climate are untitled to the pro-
duotion of other crops. While the altitude
is higher in the Gallatin than in the Vel.
lowstone. and the raising OF those crops
requil ing continuous hot weather is not 80
sure as in the valley east, to @ certain ex-
tent mixed farming has been attempted.
n in every case whe. Q the farmer has
carefully considered the conditions. and
been governed accordingly, he has been
successful. Some years tomatoes and
melons mature in the Gallatin valley, but
more often early frosts come. so that their
cultivation has not been extensively car
risd on. But all the more hardy vegeta-
bios are sure crops, while those engaged in
the culture Of small fruits, such as straw
berries, raspberries and our,ants make an
excellent profit. About the last s%trawbe'-
riss in the market are those that IRE grown
in the Gallatin valley. These are large and
luscious looking, have a delicious flavor.
and have q ready sale both in the home
market at Bozsman and in Butte and Hell
ena. where they command from 25 to 30
cents a basket, the supply always being far
short OF the demand. In this one item
alone there lies the opportunity for u hun
drsd small farmers in the Gal!atin to make
a competence ench year. Another indus
try in which there will be a good deal of
profit for the Gallatin farmer is ~dairyiEg.
To-day all the butter consumed in tie city
of Boz,man is shipped in from outside the
state. and this trade alone takes
thousands of dollars out of Montana
that could be kept at home. MANY
of the farmers themselves buy the butter
they use on their tables. This is not be-
cause they canuo keep a few COWS profit
ably and make uso of the cream, but be-
cause they have devoted all their time and
attention to grain, and have not given the
dairy idea any attention. Those ac-
quaicted with the conditions in the Gala
tin say the fas me.s are beginning to realize
the short sightedness of this neglect, and
it will not be long before a butter and
chees, factory, of large capacity, will be in
operation in that vicinity. With Butte and
Helena almost at their doors the Gallatin
farmers would find a market in These cities
that would take all the butter they could
produce. This is a branch of the farm in
dustry in the Gallntin that offers to the
intelligent Illinois o. Ohio farmer. with a
moderate capital. a most inviting fed.
The most extensive farming operations
in the Gallatin valley are those carried on
by the Manhattan company. This COM
pany is composed entirely of wealthy New
Workers, the majority being interested in
the brewing businesa. Several years ago
the farmers in the Gallat,n began raising
barley. Some Of it was shipped to New
York and repeated tests proved that it was
superior to any barley grown in the United
States. A syndicate of brewers was formed
and after a thorough Investigation they
concluded to form a company to raise bar
ley on an extensive scale in the Gallatin. In
1890 they purchased 0.O00 acres of land in
the Gnllatin valley. near what is now Man
haitian, or tho west side of the Gallatin
river. The first year they put in 1900 acres
of harlay l0st : fbav ipcYoooaS %h;o -
5000 acres and this season they will seed
100000 acres with barley. The yield
each year has fully met the expectations of
the promoters of the enterprise. The COM
pany has also built at Manhattan n malt
house with a capacity CT 10000 bushels,
and an elevator having "A capacity of 275, OOO
bushels, Beyond q small acreage in oats
for feeding their stock, and in vegetables
for the use of employees, barley only IL
grown. Shortly after the first purchase OF
10000 acres the company bought 5000 adj
ditional, but this does not cover this entire
holdings. The stockholders in the Man
haitian company arc largely interested il
the West Gallatin Irrigation company
This latter company has purchased from
the Northern Pacific railroad companJ
about 30 900 acres of land under the ditch,
, and in addition the canal will cover about
25. 600 acres opea to public settlement. Or
!. the land under this ditch the Manhattan
and the Irrigation company aro putting
into effect the first systematic attempt Ia
< Montana to establish colonies OF thrift
1 foreign-born farmers. They selected, AZ
the most desirable settlers for that section
I in view Of the character of the farming
- ~-,rti~aa - 10 ,un,l JT
ders, md already some forty families ar.
I established there. Thirty additional fam.
lilies will arrive in june, and in n couple O.
years there will be at least 800 or 600 O
this very desirable class of settlers in tn,
@ Gallatin valley. These people are all woll.
TOTO. and come prepared with a modernt
capital to begin life in a new country. III,
e Hollnnders are given work on the com
3 pany's farm until they are ready to farm
r on their own account.
t The success that attended the first al
tempts at raising barley in the Gallntin
and the extensive scale on which the Man
haitian company has gone into that bust
i ness has induced others to grow it, nm,
II every year will witness n much lnrger acre
age in this particular &c. eal. The fac