The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-02-05
HISTORY OF FRUIT RAISING
In Montana Orchards Started In
1866.

1866.
The recent report of the State Hor-
ticultural association contains the fol-
lowing interesting data concerning the
inception and growth of the fruit in
dustry in Montana:
While commercial fruit growing in
Montana is an industry of only a few
years existence, the first trees We're
planted about 35 years ago. Thomas
W. Harris, on Three Mile, near Stev-
ensville, Bitter Root Valley, was prob
ably the first person to. try planting
apple trees in 1866. Next year others
notably James Meinsinger, w. N.
Smith and William McWhirk obtained
some trees from Philip Ritz, of Wash
ington territory, and planted them.
Some of these old trees are still liv-
ing and bearing fruit but the most of
them were of unsuitable varieties or
were poorly cared for and have long
since disappeared.
In 1870, Bass brothers began plant
ing the orchard that has since brought
in thousands of dollars to it's owners
ana proven fruit growing not only
possible but profitable.
BY 1880 a number of small orchards
We're to be found in what is now
Missoula and Ravalli counties, but
probably a thousand boxes in the
the state would have been a large es-
innate. In 1890 the nmber of trees
mad swelled into the thousands and
the output o. fruit was corresponding
| ly large.
Still fruit growing was not yet look
ed upon as a profitable or legitimate
calling in Montana Those who had
planted out large numbers of trees
were looked upon as cranks, and the
masses of the people living in the
fruit belt itself did not realize that
those whose trees were in bearing
were making money from them.
| But in 1898 revelation and a
change came about. In the fall of
that year the first 1rult fair was held
at Stevensville, and those who came
and saw doubted no longer. Immense
quantities OF apples, pears, plums and
grapes were shown there of the finest
size, quality and appearance ever seen
in any country and best of all, the
fruit was entirely tree from blemishes
or insect pests Of any kind.
The exhibit was taken to Butte and
Helena and there viewed by thousands
who, until then, had scarcely heard
that fruit could be grown in Montana,
and were astonished to find that it
was so perfect in every way and EN-.
braced so many varieties.
Then came the fruit growing or
rather planting boom all over western
Montana. Every one who owned land
planted an orchard. People from
i Butte, Anaconda, Helena and other
parts of the state bought land and sci
out fruit trees by the tens of thous
ands. Stock companies were formed
and they planted still larger orchards
until today there are in Ravalli coun
ty alone, which does not take in al
of the Bitter Root valley, over $4,000
fruit trees and the crop this year
l90O-was estimated by the state ia
|spector at $4,000 boxes of one bushe
: each.
Missoula county is only second tt
Ravalli in the nmber of and extent
: of it's orchards, while thousands o
trees have been planted in Flatheat
county, and many in other portions o
the state.
In size, beauty and quality the ap
pies grown in Montana are unsurpass
ed. So far they are free from tht
disgusting worms, and it is the objec
and intent of the state horticulture
board to prevent our fruit becoming
infested and defiled by the maggot O
the coddling moth of other insect O.
fungus growth. So far our trees ar,
free from any serious disease or in
sect troubles. Thousands of trees @
varieties too tender for our climat,
have been planted, as proven by tn,
: results of the hard winters of 1S9S-99
But those killed or so seriously in
: jured have been replaced and frui
growing seems now to be upon a sure
firm basis and with promise of a grea
9 future.
This is matter of interest and con
cern, not only to those who are en-
gagged in fruit production, but to tn
fruit consumers as we'll, who are bene
J. fitted by having clean, healthful, de-
cious fruit.