The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-22
BITTER ROOT FRUIT.
An Experts 0pinion on the Needs of
the Fertile Valley.
THE JUClEST OF PORKERS
They Have a Different Voice From
the Ordinary Hog-StevensvilIe
Is Moving Along-Good Words
for the standard"

i"iHeis VINO VIII come In ana take hold
of places of 10 and 20 acres" This
statement was made to a Standard re-
porter to-day by an experienced fruit
grower who has been engaged in the
business ever since the first fruit trees
were planted in the Bitter Root valley
1 The speaker was thoroughly in earnest
and added that this opinion is the re-
suit of several years careful study of
the situation. "A small farm thor
oughly cultivated is of more value 10
the owner and of greater benefit to the
valley than large tract imperfectly
farmed and partially neglected 1t is
the small farmer and fruit grower that
VIII make this valley as prosperous as
ii ought to be-"
This opinion is shared by many who
nave looked into the conditions here.
A man who knows something about
farming and is Industrious can make
a profit out of 1O-acre farm. If he
doesn't know the business or If he is
lazy he Will not succeed at fruit grow
I ing any more than he will at anything
else. There is one instance in the valley
here of man who makes a five-acre
farm support himself and his family
How he does ii and how anybody else
may do the same was explained to a
standard reporter to-day and here is
the explanations
or the five-acre tract, half an acre is
reserved for the house and grounds.
and half an acre for the vegetable gar
den. On the other four acres. as trees
are generally planted in the valley, 400
apple trees can be planted. For the
hrst three years, rows of small fruits
may be planted between the lines of
trees, which will give two acres in ber-
ries and currants.
These two acres will yield about $500
hn
Fulkerson, the well-known berry grow
er, makes an acre of small fruit yield
$500, so that $3.50 per acre ought to be
falr estimate. In the third year the
trees will yield an average of a box of
apples to the tree, which will represent
$500. From this time on the apple yield
VIII increase. while the small fruits will
have to be abandoned and cleared out
as the trees Increase in size.
This is the statement made to the re-
porter by an expert fruit man. 1t as
sumes two things-that a man knows a
little about farming and is willing to
learn more and that he is willing to
work hard. These two qualities, how
ever, are no more essential to the fruit
business than to any other. If the
above is a fair estimate, as it is be-
lieved to be, a 10-acre farm ought to be !
a profitable investment.
The argument that has been made |
that there is danger Of OVERRIDING the |
frult business here is refuted by the |
conditions which exist at present. |
There are no apples in the Missoula |
market. either from the Bitter Root or |
the Washington crops. Dealers there
are now selling apples from the East.
III apples are grown here for winter
sale the market win always be good
and there will always be a demand for
the entire product.
ready firmly established in public favor
and has a reputation which makes for
II ready market, there is another pro-
duct of this valley that is destined to
become famous. The fame of the Bit
ter Root hog, however, will never be
like that of the Helena porcine. The
former is for consumption, while the
latter consumes. The Bitter Root pork
er is dandy. His life is spent roam
ing in pasture in the clear air of the
valley and his food is grain and green
alfalfa and peas. He is fat but well
and his flesh is a dainty NOR
sci. Even his squeal is different from
he noise made by the porker who has
never been outside the limits of his
pen. There is nothing about him that
s offensive, and if Moses had only been
amiliar with the Bitter Root pig he
would never have placed a ban on pork
During the past year the pork shipping
business has begun to cut an import
mt figure in the valleys revenue and
more recently, there has been a large
mount of hams and bacon sent from
Iere. May Brothers have been the pio-
eers in this industry and their ranch
N the old Fort owen grant is well
locked with lusty porkers waiting to
re sent out of the valley for the gratifi-
alton of hungry Montanans.
Stevensville keeps moving along sat
-fanfnff1xr NnhaAx- he
nough to predict a boom here, but
here is a good, steady business that
eeDs the people moving all the time
he shipments of fruit, grain, hay.
ressed meat and stock are larger every
ear and each new item adds revenue
, this. the oldest of all the settlements
l the state. The town is surrounded
Y fertile farms and is peopled by
lnchmen who are getting out of the
Id ruts and are keeping up with the
recession. Since the new hotel was
nished the town is becoming q favor
e resort for pleasure seekers and the
ldications are that the summer will
nd crowd of vacationists here. The
shing is good and the place combines
he comforts of town with the freedom !
the country--an inducement that Is 1
ard to resist c
All through the valley one hears \
bod words for the Standard. one man. q
prominent republican. said to \
tandard reporter: I'VE all like the
lper up here. We believe that the
andard is devoted TO the interests of 9
ontana and that IL man works for -
at end. the Standard recognizes his n
orth, even If he is not a democrat"
hen the man subscribed, good evil u
nee of his sincerity.
There is only one objection to coming
Stevensville. 1t is so hard TO get
way. 1t is not that the people here .
Y To keep a visitor after he has made Y
} his mind to leave. Stevensville folks =
e too courteous for that. but il is =
at the railroad people have so much
siness that the train gets into
evansville from one 20 two hours late n
"a that hour or two must he spent at y
@ dreary station. where there is lust -
W but little attraction. especially -
ice the removal OF the little saloon :
lde famous 10y Jake Miser. "Old
lrry." a couple OF murders and the
u-hfgL-aN