Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-08-31

IaANhA ~
thai our bench lands were really cap
able OF producing the very best quail
ity OF hard milling wheat and that II
Is being done, 1t becomes a matter of
great interest. not only to the farm
GER. who is the chief beneficiary. but
to all of the people.
Years ago We often heard the re-
mark that hard whea, could not be
raised in this county" that this is a
stock county pure and simple and the
idea OF manufacturing -four from the
wheat grown here is absurd" What
a change has come over the scene.
Where heretofore the natural grasses
rtpened and cured in the summer sun
can be seen great fields of waving
wheat or shocks so numerous as to
cause amazement. and all without IL
rigation in an exceptionally dry year.
Not only is a splendid quality OF
wheat raised but It il being eagerly
sought after by milling men and spec
~ulators. Wheat is wheal this year all
over the country, owing to damage by
rust in the Mississippi valley states
and prices have been soaring in the
Chicago market. This has doubtless
had a tendency TO advance the price
in Montana as -four II likely to be
higher.
Many oil our farmers are realizing
81 cents a bushel for their wheat and
the average per acre will not be less
than 81 bushels. Surely farming. and
more especially wheat raising, is
looking mp. We have always main
tanned that as soon as our farmers
had access 10 outside markets they
would make money. The coming of
the railroad has solved the problem.
It will only be a short time before
buyers will come in here for other
products OF the farm. 1t is not i'm
probable that the time may come when
Fergus county wheat can be laid
down in Minneapolis or Chicago al a
profit 1t could have been done this
year had the high prices quoted been
less iuctuating.
II Is estimated that me wheat crop
of the county this year will reach be-
tween 250,000 and 100000 bushels.
But this is a mere hagatelle 10 the
amount OF wheat that can be raised
in the county. The acreage should be
doubled next year. The time is not
far distant when the wheat crop of
the county will reach a million bush.
els. We have the bench lands, the
| valleys and the foothills where il can
be raised. Next season may be more
favorable than this and there will be
a growing demand for the wheat.
II has been demonstrated that it
pays. What else is necessary. One
man says his wheat land earned him
s25.00 an acre.
Farmers should maxi a study OF
wheat raising. Spring wheat makes
the better -four but winter wheat is
a more reliable crop. Both can be
successfully raised most years with
care. Attention should be given 10
summer following and the ground all
prepared in the fall in order that
spring wheat can be sown as soon al
ter the breaking up of winter as pos
sible, thus avoiding the danger OF
early frosts about harvest time. \
great deal OF wheat has been sown in
this county as late as the middle OF
May. Although our soil is strong and
grain grows rapidly a gain of a month
or two weeks in the spring would in
sure a crop free from injury by frost
in most years.
They say everything comes to those
who wait. The farmers OF this coun
ty have waited a long time for their
opportunity and now that il is here
they should not be slow in taking ad
vantage of it.
Why NOT make Fergus county re
nowned as the leading wheat growing
county Of the state, as it is now the
chief gold producer of the great com
monwealth?