The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-25
FRUIT CROP PROSPECTS
The State Board Is Making
Inquiries.
AMOUNT OF DAMAGE DONE
The Winters Experience Will Demon
strate What Varieties OF Trees
Are Best Adapted to the
Bitter Root District.

Missoula March 24.-The state board
of horticulture has begun IT'S work in
| earnest, and it is hoped that all farm
| ers and fruitgrowers will cooperate
with the members of the board in their
efforts to secure such informato as
will benefit the branch of industry that
the board hopes to promote. Score
tary Edwards is sending out to all
fruitgrowers the following letter, which
will explain itself:
Dear Sir: The board of horticul-
ture desires to secure as full Informal
ton as possible as to the damage done
to fruit trees and also as to the pros
poets for fruit crop, and ask you to give
them the very widest information posi-
bic.
State extent of injury by freezing
to your orchard.
state what variety of trees have
been injured most.
State how many trees you have.
state if you think small fruits have
been injured
state what are the prospects for a
crop of the various fruits.
And also any other information you
may be able to give. Kindly reply at
once"
The purpose of this circular of in
curry is to ascertain what va
rieties of trees have suffered
most seriously from the unusually
severe cold of the past winter While
it is believed from the information that
has been received unofficially that more
damage has been done by cold than
during any previous winter since or
chards were first planted in this section,
it is not yet known positively how seri-
Gus the injury to orchards has been 1t
is hoped, too, that the results of the
winters storms may after all lead to
considerable benefit to the fruit men,
as they will demonstrate beyond any
doubt what varieties Of trees are best
adapted to endure the possible rigors of
this climate. The past winter was the
most severe in western Montana OF any
since 1885, and it is not likely that there
Will be another so severe in many years
to come. However, it is the desire Of
the board of horticulture to guard
against further serious damage from
such season by encoura ging the plant
ing of varieties that have been shown
to be capable of standing the severest
test that this climate can impose
From reports that are sent from the
fruitgrowing districts of the coast states
1t Is evident that Montana has suffered
to much less degree than they have
In Oregon and Washington it is said
that whole orchards were ruined dur
ing January, when the thermometer
fell so low. Nowhere in Montana ex-
cept in the case of trees just planted,
has there been any wholesale damage
of this sort.
Secretary Edwards is also collecting
Information for the Northern Pacific in
this line, in order that some estimate
may be made of the size of the crop
that will be shipped from western Mon
tana this year. All orchard men are
urged to send promptly the information
asked for and to make their replies as
specific as possible. In this way the
board will be made of great benefit to
men engaged in fruit growing.
Small-fruit growers are preparing for
their season of busy days and are now
laying in their stock of shipping boxes
so as to be ready for the rush when it
comes. Berry boxes are being received
in large quantities and many of the
berry men are hauling out their sup
plies to their ranches.