Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-12-21
HORTICULTURE

But a few years ago many scoffed at the
idea Of raising fruit in this section but
the best evidence that we can is that
we do. Not only is it fully demon
strated that fruit can be raised, but that
it can be raised at a profit, and a good
one at that. Apple trees that have
reached the age Of five years are bear
ing and at the age of six or seven are
good for from one to two boxes of mar
ketable apples to the tree and ofttimes
double that. The average price of apples
at picking time is about 81, and as the
popular planting is 10S trees to the acre
it is not a difficult matter to figure the
profit. An advantage possessed by this
section of the state over many other
fruit sections is the absence of insects.
Montana apples are not wormy. The
climate produces a fine flavor, crisp, ten
der, and juicy. The orchardists are yet
experimenting with varieties and the
value of some is still IN question, but the
favorites. from an epicurian standpoint,
are in the following order:
Summer varietles-Yellow Transparent,
Red Astrakhan.
Fall-Duchess, Gravenstien, Improved
Maiden Blush.
Early winter-McIntosh Red, Wealthy,
Snow, Late Winter King of Tompkins
county. eYllow Bellefeur, Northern Spy.
From the market growers position,
locking to profit solely, the list must be
changed. Most agree that the Wealthy
stands at the head but there are others
who have special favorites. The fol-
lowing list will be found to contain those
proven to be the best money makers:
Summer-Red June, eYllow Transpar-
ent, Red Astrakhan.
Fall-Ducaess, Gladstone, autumn
strawberry.
Early winter-McIntosh Red, Wealthy,
Alexander.
Late w!nter-King of Tompkins coun-
ty, Rome Beauty, Gano.
Peaches and grapes can not be said to
be generally profitable. Such as are
raised, however, are of excellent quality.
About Plains they do fairly Well and
apricots are being grown to perfection.
Pears are destined to be one of the sta
pie crops. The Baratlett, Flemish Beauty,
Idaho, Duchess and all of the popular
varieties do exceedingly we'll and the
quality is of the best. Properly handled
Montana naars can be kept in ordinary
cellars until late in THE winter. Those
new on the market are rich, juicy, ten
der and delicious. They command a
good price and being free to bear. yield a
nice profit. TWig and fire blight are I'M
known in the pear orchards of Montana.
The small fruits do exceedingly we'll.
Strawberries reach a good size and ripen
firm and thoroughly. AS the yield is
from 100 to 250 crates to the acre, and
prices rule good, q nice profit Is realized.
! R1sflberries, blachlberries, g~ooseberries
and currants bear abundantiy, are of
good size and quality, and command
good prices. To see the trees bending
under their weight of ripening fruit. or
che bushes a mass of brilliant color. dis
pels all doubt as to the possibility of
its growth and development.
The history of fruit culture IN Montana
is not long. 1t was but thirty years ago
when a hundred small apple gratis We're
received by Bass brothers from Plym-
outh in the old Bay state. The same
mistake was made that seems to have
beal made in every new country: the
trees were planted in the valley. Sub
sequeat experiments have proven that
here, as elsewhere, the higher ground is
better for fruit, producing more and of
better quality. Since that fact has been
determined. hundreds of thousands of
trees have been set in orchards varying
in size from a few trees to A, coo on one
ranch.
The fruit industry is in its infancy.
but sufficient has been learned to con-
Nir"e ore that no-one makes a mistake
by planting strawberries, raspberries,
hachberries, dewberries, currants, goose
berries, sweet or sour cherries, plums,
ounces, pears or apples. The thrifty
housewives larders are filed with cam
ned fruits, jellies, preserves, pickles,
marmalades and the various combine
tions SO well known to them and so well
liked tbv all.