The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-09-23

2.5 tons. Winter wheat is grown
very successfully, often yielding 40
bushels per acre. The oats do not
lodge and rust, while smut, chinch
bugs and Hessian flies have not ar
rived to vex the farmer. Wild oats
are abundant and hard to extermi-
nate. The grains contain little sub
stance and ripen and fall to the
ground before the other grain is
ready to cut.
Sweet corn is grown, but field corn
is not, owing to the cool summers.
Timothy is the principal hay crop
and brings big price. Bald barley
is also grown for hay. Glover and
alfalfa grow luxuriantly, but they are
only beginning to be grown in the
valley. The clover does not fall down
and the lower part of the stems
blacken and the leaves die, but
stand up straight and green until
ready to cut Timothy grows easily
and yields heavily, as does most all
kinds of clover, grasses and small
grains. Rape and vetch make an
immense growth. Canada field peas
do exceedingly well.
Potatoes and all other hardy vege-
tables are easily grown and attain
and immense size. Tomatoes and
melons are not grown except near the
lake and in a few protected valleys
opening into the Flathead.
Nearly all kinds of fruits do ex-
ceedingly well. Apple trees begin
to bear when to years old, and
if not allowed to overbear they will
yield good crops every year. 1t
seems strange to us eastern people
that one Of the chief difficulties is
over bearing, but such is the fact.
saw scores of trees that were liter
ally breaking down with their loads
of fruit. Thinning and propping is
resorted to frequently. The fruit is
entirely free from worms and no in
sects and fungus diseases trouble
any kind of fruit, with the single ex-
ception of the aphis. There is a lit
tie green bug that sometimes covers
the ends of new shoots on apple
trees, but they are easily destroyed
by spraying Or dipping.
European plums and sour cherries
grow we'll and abundantly. The limbs
of the cherry trees literally bend to
the ground with the weight of fruit.
Some Japanese plums are grown and
the American varieties can doubtless
be easily grown. Sweet cherries are
grown near the lake, as are pears
peaches and prunes. The growing of
these last named kinds of fruit is yet
in the experimental stage. Strawber-
ries, blackberries, raspberries, goose
berries and currants grow almost
without attention and yield enor-
mously. The red raspberry is the
principal small fruit grown. Neither
raspberries or blackberries ever win
ter kill.
Lumber and fuel are everywhere
abundant and cheap. One of the larg
est sawmills in the world is located
at the north end of Flathead lake
and there are several other mill:
along the streams north of Kalispell
Dimension stuff and rough boards
sell for $40 per thousand; flooring
drop siding and ceiling, 500 per thous
and; poles, firewood and trees not I'll
for saw timber can be had for the
cutting. Rail fences of various kinds
are much in evidence. None. of the
timber lasts we'll in the ground and
therefore, the posts are often set OF
top of the ground and propped up b!
a brace. Some fences are made o
wire, some of boards, some OF rail
and some are built of combination
of these materials. Wood is the uni
versal fuel, costing 81 to So per cord
or free in the tree.
Kalispell is located in the cente
of the Flathead valley and is tn
chief city of that region. 1t is tn
county seat of Flathead county, div
sion center of the great foothills Q
! the Rocky mountains and on tn
: Great Northern, being the larges
! city on that road between Gran
Forks, N. D., and Spokane, VAST
! Though but IL years old it now COZ
: tains a population of nearly .4,O0'
There are fine brick business blocks
churches of all leading denomln;
tions and handsome school buildings
l A large court house is now in tn
2 course of construction, and it is e.
r pected that a county high schot
building will soon be erected.
! Prices of all kinds of merchandis
8 are considerably higher than in tn
$ eastern and central states, but thi
e is more than counterbalanced by tn
i high prices paid for all farm pr
: ducts. Grain and potatoes bring abo'
:, 81 per cwt., hay SO per ton, an
!. other things in proportion. The me
: chants were paying rs cents pt
: pound for butter and the same priC