The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-19
IN THE BITTER ROOTS REALM

lence of the beef that has been shipped
out of here, has attracted more atten-
ton to the agricultural resources and
especially to the remarkable nutritious
qualities of the hay and grain that
grow here. In this line there is prob
ably no region in the world that can
excel the fertile valleys of the western
end of Montana. In the growth of veg
etables Western Montana has made
giant strides from the small beginning
that Uncle Bill Berry made until the
potatoes and the beets and the corn
that grow here are as large as was the
price that the pioneer gardener charged
the miners for the products of his gar
den. In one feature especially have the
gardeners of this region made them
selves famous-with their celery. There
is no celery grown anywhere that ex-
GELS that which Is raised in the gardens
Of these valleys. 1t Is in great demand
all over the state and the supply is not
sufficient for the market. Improved
methods of farming and increased areas
under irrigation have added to the
quantity of these products that are
raised, but the beginning has only just
been made. As the industry of market
gardening is developed there will be
no more celebrated gardens than those
that are found in this section. For the
hay and grain of the farms here but
little needs to be said. The excellence
of these crops is already recognized
This year the crop was unusually large
and the market the best that has ex-
listed for years. The farmers of the
F'lathead valley, of Horse Plains, of
the Clearwater, of the Bitter Root and
of the Missoula valley have all har
vested crop that is remarkable alike
for its excellence and its great quanti-
ty. 1t is to this that the prosperity of
this region this winter is largely due.
Fruit.
You will have to accompany your
shipment of Bitter Root apples with
an affidavit If you expect Eastern peo-
pie to believe that they grew in Mon
tana" wrote Colonel Dan Lamont this
fall in acknowledging the receipt of
some of the fruit of Western Montana.
The Bitter Root apple is the finest pro-
duct of the orchard that can be found
anywhere in the world. For several
years past there has been extensive de-
Nelopnont Of the orchard industry in
progress and this work is beginning to
tell. The thousands of young trees that
We're planted three and four years ago
have begun to yield and the output of
the orchards of Western Montana il
steadily increasing. Despite this. how
ever, there is not yet enough fruit
grown here TO supply the local mar
kets of the state. There has been no
manifested by the orchard men during
this year. and thousands of young trees
have been planted that viii. in a few
seasons, add their product to the out
put Of Western Montana. The small
fruit business. too, has shown crafty
ing increase during this year and the
quality of the fruit shipped has made
them popular in the markets of the
state. Western Montana has By the
persistence and patient effort Of the men
engaged in the fruit-growIng industry
Won recognized place In the produe-
ing sections Of the Northwest that is
satisfactory. and its place will be a
higher one as the years advance and
the predictions Of those who have
watched the development of this in
dustry are verified.
stock Growing.
During this year the stock-growlng
interests ef western Montana have