The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-03-13

counties of the state a rigid inspec-
| ton of imported fruits has been kept
up by the board. This feature of the
| work is one of stupendous proper
tions, when it is considered that
there was imported into the state
from May l, 1901, to November 80,
1902, period of 10 months, the enOr-
nous total of about 34,210,000 pounds
| of fruit. During the same period
| there was inspected 4,3O2,15O pounds,
making a grand total of the number
of pounds inspected, 38,512,4oO. 1t is
known through the most careful esti-
mates made by this Office, assisted
by the most experienced horticulture
lists, that Montana orchards produced
during the year 1902, 275,00O boxes
Of apples and fair crop Of plums,
pears, cherries and berries. 1t will
be but a few years until the product
of our orchard will supply the home
market.
The inspection of fruits is looked
after by special commissioners, and
all fruits found to be infected with
any injurious disease liable to be dis
seminated throughout the orchards,
are condemned. The good effect of
this inspection is seen in all of the
important markets of this state. At
the present time fruits are being
shipped to us from various sect'o..s
of the country, under guarantee as to
<hoin frnD Tn,
many instances they have been in
spected by the inspectors OF locali-
ties from whence they have been
shipped. In such cases a certificate
of inspection accompanies the in.
voice.
california. Washington, Oregon,
and Idaho. the states from which we
import most of our fruits, have found
it necessary to take active steps look
ing to the eradication of disease from
their orchards, owing to the stringen-
cy of our horticultural law, in order
to hold the market
When the pioneers IN Montana or
charding first planted apple trees,
they had no means of knowing what
varieties, if any, would grow and sue
coed here. They naturally first
planted those old varieties they knew
win. King, Belleflower, Greenery and
dozens of others.
Many of these proved too tender
for the hard winters of those days
and harder kinds were sought and
found in such Russians as Duchess,
also some of the new seedlings from
the northern belt of fruit growing
states, as the Wealthy SCOTS Win
ter, Pewaukee, Walbrdge, etc.
Then came a host of the newly
imported Russians for trial, most Of
which proved of little value, though
a few are good and will stay with us.
Those proven desirable are Antonov-
ka, Boiken, Yellow Transparent,
/ Gravenstiven, and one or two Others
Still trying to find the perfect ap-
| pie, we have of late been trying some
OF the Missouri and Arkansas favor
ties, such as Gano, M. B. Twig, Black
Ben Davis, Shackelford, Senator, etc.
Thus it is that in nearly every or
chard in Ravalli and Missoula coun-
ties there are a great many more va
rieties than there should be, either
for pleasure or profit. 1t would be
far better for the grower if he had
| only one or two kinds for each sea-
son of ripenng, and there is no ex-
cuse for those now planting orchards
repeating the blunder of those who
set the earlier orchards. While the
perfect apple has not yet been found
for each season, it is very easy to
discard a large portion of those we
now have as of less value than 9TH
ers.
1T is not necessary to cut down or
dig up the inferior kinds, but by top
grating they may be changed in
three or four years into bearing the
best fruit we nave.
LAS to varieties that have been
tried and proven to be the best are
the following: Yellow Transparent
is the earliest firstclass apple we
have ripe in August, fine II appear
ance and flavor, tender in flesh, but