The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-20
WESTERN MONTANA NEWS
sstSA
A MODEL ORCHARD,
what Care and Intelligent Application
Can Do With Fruit


Can DO With Fruit
Missoula, Aug 19.-As an excellent
Illustration of what proper methods can
accomplish in the orchard business in
TINS region, the new orchard of the Mis-
soula Orchard & Improvement com
pany in the Eight Mile valley is cited
by those who are confident of the flu
ture of Western Montana as a fruit
producing district This orchard was
planted in the spring OF 1898, when Nal
COIN Mcdonald, the manager of the
company, set out about 1000 young
trees. For the first summer they did
well, hut there We're grave fears when
the severity of the following winter sea
son was noted. The loss, however, was
less than 1 per cent of the trees plant
ed. Orchard men who have been study
ing the conditions and results of the
severe storms of last winter as affect
ing the orchards, have been surprised
at this result. While other and older
orchards suffered seriously this one es-
capped with slight loss. The reason that
is assigned for this, after careful study,
is two-fold. First the selection of the
trees as to variety had much to do
with 1t. These varieties were chosen
after careful investigation of the con-
dltions of climate and soil and with
a special view to their commercial
Volue. In the second place, the manner
the first season, as to cultivation and
irrigation, had undoubtedly much to
do with the successful result of the
first seasons work.
Standard representative recently
visited this orchard, his attention hav-
ing been attracted to it by the discus
sion that it has received from promi-
nent orchard men, and inspected the
location. The site of the orchard is
certainly well chosen. The 100 acres
of the big farm of the company that
are planted in trees lie on a beautiful
slope which faces the south. Stand
ing at the foot of the slope and looking
upward toward the bench land the Wis
itor witnesses delightful sight The
thousands of young trees, of almost
uniform height, stretch away in long
rows of mathematical exactness and
the healthy, vigorous young trees are
the very best advertisement that the
orchard interests of the Bitter Root
could have The soil and the exposure
seem to be perfectly adapted to the
culture of fruit trees and the young
apple. and cherry trees that make up
this orchard indicate that it will in a
few years be one of the finest in the
valley.
1t is Of interest to note how this
site came to be selected. Mr. Nc
Donald. who chose it and who is man
aging the farm, is an experienced rruit
grower. He had become dissatisfied
with the conditions in Oregon and
spent three summers in cruising"
through Washington, Oregon and
Idaho, looking for loca tion that pleas
ed him. During the third summer ne
drifted into Western Montana and
after looking over the valleys, settled
upon the Eight Mile place as best
adapted to the requirements of fruit
culture. He accordingly planted the
orchard and the results thus far con-
firm the wisdom of his selection. 1t
is a splendid testimonial to the merits
of this section as a fruit growing dis
trict and the manner in which the
orchard has been handled is worthy of
the attention of all fruit growers.