The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-03-17
DIVERSIFIED NJ

Hon. Paris Gibson struck the key
note of the agricultural problem in this
region when in his address before the
Farmers association yesterday he
pointed out the value and necessity Of
diversified interests on the farm. His
illustrations were drawn from his own
experience and from that of other men
in the business in those states where ag-
riculture has been reduced to a science.
Say that wheat or barley is to be the
principal crop Of a given farm, Mr.. Glib
sons contention is that the farmer
should also have some live stock, and
that he should raise sufficient feed of
various kinds to keep them. He spoke
of the splendid stock sheep raised in
Vermont, and declared that there is no
reason why the same industry should
not be carried on here, or why fine,
blooded cattle, horses, and swine should
not be produced here as well as any
where else in the world.
In Mr.. Gibson's remarks we have the
kernel of the whole matter. Without
fear of contradiction it may be asserted
that there is not in any region of the
globe such a magnificent home market
as is offered to the farmer of Montana
right in his own state-a home market
that is practically unlimited, as il grows
as rapidly as production is likely to do,
and in which the prices for every kind
of product are so uniformly high. The
farmer has only to diversity the product
of his farm to become the most indie
pendent man in the commonwealth. For
his grain he will have the best possible
market from this time on, and if in adj
dition to his grain he pats in a few acres
of vegetables, raises some poultry and
eggs, some sheep, pigs, COWS, and horses,
the world is his for all practical pur
poses, and he should readily become the
most happy, prosperous, and independ-
ent of the states inhabitants.
1t is still enormously asserted by some
that crops cannot be raised in this region
without irrigation. The fallacy Of this
has been proven by the repeated expert
of Mr.. Gibson, Washington
Muzzy, Mr.. Porter, and many others
who are in evidence. The truth is that
as many crops in a given number of
can be raised here without irriga-
ton as in any other state of the union,
while the yield per acre in both quality
and quantity is vastly in our favor. IT.
is an excellent thing whenever
it is possible, but in districts which are
not now irrigable and that may not be
Tor SOM time to come, great crops can
be raised and are raised by following
methods adapted to the conditions that
exist.
On this point Mr.. Gibson's remarks
Yesterday were especially instructive.
lie said that it might not do for farmers
Iowa and Minnesota to come here
and do just as they had been accus-
in the older states. The expert
of farmers here must be complied
with, and MIR. Gibson gave it as his con-
riction that where summer following is
lone, and cereal crops are sown late in
fall, or as early as possible in the
good crops are assured without a
of irrigation. This is the expert
testimony of one whose knowledge and
experience of this section of Montana,
md on all agricultural matters, entities
him to speak with authority. Whoever
this advice will be sure to sue
ICED by ordinary industry and diligence.
Let the edict 60 forth in favor of di-
'ersitied farming and Montana will soon
become the paradise of the intelligent
.g~ricuiturist.