The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-23
Western Montana MeWs

chairman selected Frank Thomas and
the secretaries of the Horticultural So
ciety and the Fruitgrowers' associa-
ton.
Mrs. s. NJ. Emery followed in a few
sparkling remarks upon the subject of
giving the women a more prominent
place I'm future sessions. She said the
women were coming to the front and
were bound to be recognized.
Invitations to Missoulians to visit the
Bitter Root valley during the harvest
season and partake of the hospitality
of its residents were extended by
Messrs. Nichol, Harlan and others, af-
ter which adjournment was taken. The
ladies remained to listen to the remarks
of Mrs. S. NJ. Emery on matters of in
terest to the welfare of their sex.
Owing to the extensiveness of the
programme and the early departure of
the Bitter Root branch train, the read
ing of several valuable papers was
necessarily dispensed with. They will,
however be embodied in the official pro-
ceedings. Prominent among these was
that of Amos Buck of Stevensville upon
Orchard Irrigation" Some of the prac-
teal suggestions made are that the
proper handling and honest packing of
fruit adds fully one-half to the selling
price. In picking, baskets should be
used that are cushioned at the bottom
and lined on the sides with cloth. The
extra cost would be saved by prevent
ing bruises, scratches and chatting,
which, later on, causes Disagreement
and decay. Oregon and Washington
standard sizes of packages should be
used, and they should be new, clean
and smooth. No damaged or
inferior fruit should ever be packed.
The apple packer cannot be too care
full to pack in an honest and reliable
N IL 81
or defective should be thrown out and
packed and branded as No. 2. Ii was
fatal ito try to cheat the buyer in size
of package or by stuffing the middle
with inferior rubbish. while the ends
are fair. The whole fruit growing fra
ternity has become disgraced by these
silly attempts to cheat and rob the
buyer. Dishonest and careless packing
does not pay. 1t is unworthy of men
who work with nature in producing
the most beautiful and glorious crea-
ton which the Goddess of Horticulture
ever smiled upon. Mr.. Buck also en-
phasizes the Importance of growers
properly distributing their product
Then there will be no glutted markets.
In every district there should be cold
storage houses on the cooperative plan.
Fall apples placed in such buildings
where the temperature is "a degrees
could be kept an indefinite length of
time. In conclusion he believed that
the handling of fruit could be best ac-
complished through properly formed
and carefully managed associations.
The shipper who feels that his interest
In the various markets are being pro-
tected is encouraged to plant and Gull
tivate with added care, because he
feels that he will receive good value
for money and labor expended.
The paper of c. c. Willis of Plains
tleman selected as his subject Fruits
I'm Plains and Paradise Valley" In
those sections could be found the mild
est climate in the state. the tempera-
ture seldom going below zero. There
is sufficient rainfall to produce good
crops of grain and vegetables without
irrigation. The people had only turned
their attention to fruit growing dur
ing the last four or five years. But
great progress was being made in this
direction and upward of 1900 trees
were planted last year. Several or
chards possessed more than 1000 trees.
The people had hitherto been at the
mercy of tree agents. and his expert
ence was that the best trees had come
from the Bitter Root nurseries. They
were vigorous growers and well
shaped. The varieties of apples in
Plains and Paradise valley are so nu-
merous that II is not yet certain which
prove the best. Pfums of all kinds do
well and cherry trees produce literally.
Peaches also flourish. as do apricots
and pears. Small fruits of all kinds
are at home on their soil. Last sea-
son the late frost almost ruined the
crop, except on the bench
lands, where one man picked 1000 box
es from less than one-eighth of an
acre. He believed the bench lands pre-
ferable to valley lands for fruits AS
to grapes. experiments have not prov
ed satisfactory The Concord will not
ripen. In the Clarke's Fork, Thomp-
son and other valleys in Western Mon
tana could be found numerous young
orchards and vines by the thousands
that will compare favorably with any
In the state. Thousands OF acres of
good fruit lands We're opened for set
tlement. They were timbered lands,
but in many instances fine orchards
could be found growing in the midst
OF pine stumps. There is no place he
ever saw would compare with it as a
natural fruit country.