Daily inter mountain., 1900-12-21
IDEAL FARMING LANDS.

Yellowstone county has an assessed
acreage of S25,101 acres at an assessed
valuation of $S93, ,65T. 1t is essentially an
agricultural and stock growing county.
having no mineral resources. The agri-
cultural areas are fertile. and large
proportion has been irrigated and is very
productive. 1t is estimated that 100
square miles have been irrigated and
that there are several times that area
that may be. The elevations of the val
leys range from $500 to $500 feet, and
the soil varies from sandy loan to
"gumbo." and from a few inches to for
ty feet in depth. The soil requires irri-
cation to insure profitable cultivation.
Corn and all grains, grasses, vegetables
and root crops yield abundantly. Alfal-
fa is one of the most profitable crops
grown in this valley. Three crops are cut
in one season, and yield from four to six
tons per acre. Oats run from 80 to 125
bushels per acre, wheat 30 to 40 bushels,
and other grains in proportion. Barley
culture will soon be extensively pursued,
the larger part sold for mailing. The dry
weather which prevails during harvest is
peculiarly favorable to barley culture, as
rain discolors the grain and renders 1T
unfit for mailing. Flax is also grown
successfully and farmers are encouraged
to make it a staple crop. Potatoes attain
an unsurpassed perfection Small fruits
are grown in all the valleys and yield
largely. Their culture has paid well and
the farmers are every year devOting
more to their production. The expert
ments in the growing of apples, grapes,
plums and cherries proving successful,
many orchards are being planted, prom
ising to make Yellowstone one of the
frpi of "a ct at Stra WbarrtaS
attain a size and favor unsurpassed. The
rapidity with which vegetation responds
to the genial influences of warmth and
moisture is marvellous. and the produc-
tiveness of the soil excites the wonder of
those unaccustomed to farming opera
tions under the influences of irrigation.
LIVE STOCK INTERESTS.
The greatest industry of the country
has been stock raising. More than three
fourths fthe country is grazing lands
and great bands Of sheep and herds OF
cattle have grown and fattened on the
ranges. In 1899 there We're assessed In
the county 1i2, 152 sheep. valued at $685.
S32, 90 2H cattle. valued at $430,5i 7.117
horses. valued at $ll6,222; 1868 mules,
valued al S5l 1856, an aggregate stock wall
uation of almost one million dollars The
1900 assessment shows 20S, ,2S5 sheep, val
ued at S60l 935; 3,457 cattle, valued at
S71, ,247: I.f34 horses. valued al $113, 7S2: Sl6
hogs, valued at s1,472; showing an ag-
gregate stock valuation of $7SS, ,436.
The decrease in the stock valuation ia
due to the fact that the cattle heris
have been greatly decreased by the SELL
ing out of several large concerns and the
shipping of the cattle from the state.
The total valuation of all real estate
is s2,302.17S: personal and money,
s., ,090.3 392; total s4,S9317l. Last years
assessment was s3,7s2Ol7, thus showing
an increase this year of S6l1,154.
The raising of alfalfa hay for feeding
purposes is one of the chief industries
of the valley land. and is the most profit
able crop for the farmer. 1t has been