The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-12-18

bolt.
Beyond, to the south and east Of
the river, for 80 miles stretches one
of the most fertile and beautiful val
leys in the world. The Flathead
river emerging from Bad Rock can.
yon flows westerly about seven or
eight miles. then bending gradually
to the south and southeast flows in
to Flathead lake about 80 miles south
Of where it enters the valley. Be-
tween the river on the west and the
Kootenai range of mountains which
bound the valley on the east, lies the
portion of the valley referred to. It
is from six to 10 miles in width and
between the forests of pine, fir and
tamarack which skirt the river and
also cover the mountains on the east,
the valley is a continuous stretch of
fertile farms broken only DO occa-
sional points Of timber extending
from the forests on either side. This
portion of the valley, known locally
as the East Side" is a counterpart
of the West Side" valley although
there seems to be some slight differ
ence in the soil, for while oats has
been found to be the best grain crop
on a large portion of the east side,
the west side appears to be better
adapted to wheat, the northwewst
portion particularly, producing both
winter wheat and hard spring wheat
of the finest quality. Flathead hard
wheat grades with Dakota wheat,
making a flour equal to the best Da-
kota brand and is much sought after
by millers. The yield is from twenty
five to sixty bushels per acre, winter
wheat making the highest average in
yield. but it usually brings less than
spring wheat by about 8 or cents
per bushel.
Flathead oats have also come to be
famous in the markets where they
probably the highest in the world,
much of the oats weighing more than
fifty pounds per bushel. Threshing
machines in the valley usually give
40 pounds per bushel, but the aver
age weight is nearer fifty pounds.
Oats also yield we'll, usually going
from 40 to so bushels per acre, and
in few '~~tances more than 100
bushels per acre. All crops are rails
ID without irrigation to which fact
is probably due the superior quality
of the wheat. In few places hay
crops are irrigated. but many Of the
bitches have come into disuse. as the
rainfall is usually sufficient.
Soil.
The soil is generally black, sandy |
loan. but varies considerably in both |
texture and color, the soil with most |
sand being lighter in color and
such soil produces the best wheat
and most Of the timber lands have
this character of SOIL
The subsoil is mostly clay, there |
being many different varieties, but |
in a few localities the soil is under
laid with gravel or sand and gravel |
mixed. The west side valley which |
is somewhat rolling near the noun
tans has a subsoil of light colOred !
clay in which more or less gravel is |
This is sometimes called |
cement clay because it is hard and !
impervious to water. Rolling land
with this character Of subsoil is we'll |
adapted to fruit-growing and is also |
excellent for potatoes and all root |
crOps.
Water.
While bread is the staff of life |
water is life's elixir. and in supply
ing the Flathead valley with this
grateful beverage nature has been
most generous, for the valley is tray
ersed by many streams Of pure
water while many beauti-
full lakes are to be seen in every
portion of Flathead county. The
streams come tumbling from the
gorges where they offer OPP
portunities for the development of
power in unlimited measure, and |
leaving the mountains they flow gen.
orally toward Flathead lake, the gate
way to the Pacific Kalispell is
lighted and most of her elevators
and mills are run by electric power
generated by one of these streams.
The principal stream Of the region
is, of course. the Flathead river
which has its source in the mountains