The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-22

ly but the possibilities of the future are
far. very far. from having been reached.
1t requires no argument to convince all
that Montana is prominently the lead
ing state in the production of hardy
fruits I'm the Northwest
The fine exhibits of apples. plums,
pears cherries and even peaches that
have been made during the past decade
by citizens of the cities and fruit farms
go far towards convincing the skeptic
who is always abroad airing his elo-
quence. An exhibit of fruit has been
shown here i'm your city and at other
points i'm the state that every citizen i'm
the state should be proud of. Some of
the specimens / saw last year were
simply wonderful and would astonish
Eastern and Western growers. And the
several varieties have been produced
In great profusiOn in many parts of the
state. The bonanza farmers care mo-
thing for horticulture and know no.
thing of the delightful, poetical asso-
Citations of farm life. The charm of
rural occupation lies in the field of hor-
ticulture and every farm house should
be Surrounded by the accomplishments
of an advanced horticulture. There are
to-day thousands of acres of good fruit
land lin Montana and IL can be obtained
at reasonable prices. When people are
looking for a good fruit country they
usually go and see those countries where
the fruits ripen not only earliest, but
In succession and latest in the season,
and If they once go to see them ii near
ly always results in their settling there.
Montanans are thoroughly alive to the
Interest of their own section and will
proclaim the resources of their land
which is perfectly legitimate. But they
are charitable, too. Visitors here are
more than surprised; they are delight
ed In the East they hear little of in
terest pertaining to the lands encircled
by the snow-cowled peaks of the Rocky
mountains. 1t is too often represented
as a mining and stock-raising country.
with some pretensions to wheat grow
ing. but they never dream of a land of
fruit and flowers.
The varieties of fruit that do well at
all thrive to perfection. The apples
are better i'm size and flavor than the
choicest productions of the same varie-
ties further east. The same may be
said of many other sorts of fruits
which are grown to the highest state of
perfection. The apples cannot be sur
passed or equaled anywhere in the
United States. Tourists from foreign
countries say that i'm our valleys they
have found such apples as were import
ed into Europe thirty years ago from
America. With so great a diversity of
soil, variation of altitude and conse-
quent difference of climate, some fruits,
of course, must be better adapted to
certain localities than others. In high
er attitudes apples, plums and cherries
attain a greater perfection than in low
err sections. l know of no better field
for the investment of capital and labor
in horticultural pursuits than right
here in Montana. The resources are
manifest. The best of land can be pur-
chased at a moderate price. At the
present time there are not many prac
teal fruit growers engaged in the bust
ness. The home markets are not half
supplied, and THE mining camps Of this
state and neighboring countries open a
wide field for the extension of trade.
The population on all sides is rapidly
multiplying. Facilities for railroad
transportation are constantly increas-
ing The production of fruit for the
next twenty years cannot hope to keep
pace with the demands of the market.
The soil of our rich valleys is of the
most favorable character. The system
of irrigation meets all the requirements
of craving trees at a time when eXpe-
rienced judgment teaches the fruit
grower that a necessity of water exists.
One main cause for the neglect of a
more extended horticulture hitherto has
been a misunderstanding of the length
of time required for a return of the
capital invested. The following plan
should be adopted and 1t would meet
this difficulty: The skilled fruit grower
so arranges his orchard as to supply. as
far as possible, an existing market in
the future His apple trees will yield
a small crop i'm five years, but between
these he plants cherries and plums,
which bear fruit in less than that time;
so he realizes an early profit on part Of
his investment while waiting for his re-
turns upon the balance, and these same
stone fruits will have exhausted their
and be ready for the AK before
the apple trees have reached their
prime. And there is one other great
that this part of the great
Northwest has above the Pacific slope
at present !. e., the relative price for
frst-class fruit land. Suitable land can
be had in Montana to-day at prices
ranging from so to $50 per acre. In
such lands at present sell at
an average of $500 per acre at least. 1t
can be seen. therefore. that on $500 land
in California the proprietor makes a
good profit. and that the Montana man
ON his SO land has veritable bonanza
in his mountain home.
This state, like all mountain coun-
tries is divided into low valleys. elevat-
ed plateaus and high mountains. Some
of the largest are hundreds of miles
long and from one to ten miles wide.
Some of the valleys are as low as those
of Utah, where for 20 years fruit and
vegetables have been a perfect success. |
The valleys are all supplied with water
for irrigation purposes from large |
rivers hundreds Of miles i'm length, !
whose sources are a thousand miles of |
snow capped mountains, guaranteeing |
with absolute certainty ncver-ending. |
xhaustible supply of water. Farm |
ing in the past has demonstrated that |
an endless variety of agricultural and |
products can and have |
been profitably and successfully grown |
In our numerous valleys.