Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-12-21
MONTANA ORCHARDS.

MONTANA ORCHARDS.
That horticulture is destined to be-
come an important industry in Mon
tana is assured by the progress al
quite natural that the most favored
regions of the state should be first
selected for experiments in fruit rails
ing. And it must be expected that in
the older settled regions of the state
greater progress will be made and
better results insured. Eventually the
widely extended. if it does not cover
the greater portion of the state. Wes-
tern Montana now seems to be the
center of interest and productivity.
AS an instance of this the Montana
Horticultural Society has just issued
neat and valuable little pamphlet
giving the proceedings OF the society
at its last annual meeting. held in
Mlssoula last January. The book COZ.
tains about 20 papers presented and
read at the session. The next session
OF the society is to be held at Kali
spell January 49, II and Is. 1907
There are 48 members at present ltsI.
ed in the book A set of bylaws and
constitution of the society are append
ed to the book
AS fOreword to the book the So
ciety gives little resume of the hor
ticultural and agricultural conditions
in Montana, which merits wide publ
cation. 1t is as follows:
"A conservative estimate gives the
number of fruit trees in Montana az
over two million. Every year more
and more are being set out. There
are few sections of the state where
fruit trees cannot be grown. Small
fruits may be raised in all the valleys
and canyons, even up to higher alti-
tudes.
Montana is a large state, rich in
developed resources, but richer still
III uiIut'Cloptu HAUL oil lcScOuICSS, IIl6
extent Of which are but becoming
known. Of her ninety-two and one-half
million acres it is estimated that
thirty million acres may be brought
under irrigation. The reports give
more than tweleve million acres I'M
der cultivation at the present time.
Twenty-siX million acres are classed
as mountain lands from which are
taken some OF the precious minerals
lnaL have made the state so wei
known. The remaining thirty-eight
million acres are classed as grain.
lands
What does this mean? 1t means a
state as large as Kentucky as noun
tains, with its people calling for the
products OF the land; a state larger
than Pennsylvania on which roam the
herds of cattle and bands OF sheep
and horses, whose owners are calling
for the products of The soil. a state as
large as Iowa TO supply the AFRICA.
| tui al anu II wv VI ouuttS. Il1lS II tdJ
empire beckons to the orchardist and
husbandman, calling for larger and
better products. to supply the waits
of the citizens in the mines, the smell.
tiers, the lumber camps and the round
ups.
The State Horticultural society is
n 70 ict IN
work of development 1t needs and
deserves the support of all good cit.
liens. Attend the meetings. take part
in the discussions and pay the small
annual fee of one dollar to push the
good work the society is doing
The preface of the book tells the
occasion for printing it and describes
the contents of the book as follows:
In January 1902, the secretary Of
the society, Mrs. Emma Ingalls,.
printed series of papers in pamphle
form, which were distributed. This
pamphlet included the constitution
and bylaws of the society:
AltHouSH du eiioIt udS Deell llddo
every year since then to have the pro-
ceedings printed, the funds of the So
ciety have never warranted the print
ing. This year. however. the state
board Of horticulture came to the res.
cue and made provision for the publ
cation of the papers in this form. 70
the members of the state board of ho
ticulture We extend our thanks for
thus making permanent so much of
the work of the 1906 meeting
TAKES A FAIR VIEW.
A.lOlphuS Busch the multi.milIion.