Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1906-12-25

| 'N't't 'S9ui'S diS belllS secured tnan
most people are aware Of
within a few years large COM
mercial orchards will be found in
many parts of the Judith basin and
the finest kinds of apples will be mar
keted from Fergus county orchards" :"
| When asked what kind of varities
thrive best in this climate Mr.. McDon-
aid said: "A great many kinds. For
summer apples, the Yellow Trans
parent and the Duchess are the best.
AS fall and early winter apple, the
Wealthy, Alexanders and Wolf River
| apples may be named. A good MANY
winter varieties do well i'm Fergus
county. Among those that have al
ready shown their producing powers In
| Fergus orchards the following var
ieties may be named: Delaware Red,
Mcintosh Red. the Gano, the King,
Baldwin. North Spy. White Winter
ermain, York and Imperial OF these
the first named are the best, as they
are heavy bearers and good strong
growers.
| "All kinds Of crabs do well. and
pears have been grown successfully
right here In Lewistown Only three
| varieties have been introduced into
| this country with success They are
the Bartlett, Flemish Beauty and
Clapps Favorite. These do well''
How does this region compare with
| Missoula and Billings as to fruit
growing possibilities?" the gentleman
was asked
II see no reason why orchards
should not thrive here just as well
as In the Bitter Root or the Yellow
stone. The whole state of Montana is
good apple state. One region NAV
grow certain varieties better than
another. and Fergus county may not
produce as many different kinds Of
fruits as these warmer sections but
for the varieties which | namA1 this
country is ideal. The nights are Just
cool enough to insure slow ripening
and better flavor. Better apples are
grown here. and the Judith basin has
better start IN fruit culture today
than the Yellowstone had eight years
ago. All you need is time. The far
mer must BE- educated up to the fun
benefits and possibilities of the indus
try, and then Fergus county will take
rank as a great fruit growing region"
Its merely an evolutionary process.
SheeD and cattle are the first TO enter
a new country, then comes the far
mer, the wheat and oats grower Later
fruit in introduced and these are the
is now passing" continued the gentle
man. 1--WE confidently expect Fer
gus county to become one OF our very
best patrons within few years. AL
ready we have sold some large bills
of trees to several different parties
We now have an order for $1OO worth
VI trees LOT buTIbette bfOlnefS OF Cllt
Edge. Fred France is also growing
some fine fruit and is increasing the
size of his orchard"
When asked as to the best conditions
Of growing fruit trees here, Mr.. Nc
Donald said: "A sandy loan or black
loan is the best soil. A north expos
ure is also the best for fruit culture
here, as in seen by observing thu
natural growth of trees In the noun
tains. Nearly all forests in this region
are on the north and east exposures.
Next to north exposure an east ex-
oosure is best, than west exposure
of the orchard or level country is best.
Trees should be planted close to-
gether, not over twenty feet apart
Great care must be taken I'm water
ing the trees. Until the middle of
August and not later than September
l the trees should be thoroughly
chance to ripen. Late in the fall after
the, fruit has ripened. and the limbs
are hard, just before hard frost, a
thorough soaking of the ground
should be given to the trees, so as to
allow the ground to freeze Plant
your trees early in the spring, about
the middle of April
The Montana Nursery company has
large grounds near Missoula but in
the Spring they will begin to move
their headquarters to Billings, where
they recently purchased $4,000 worth
of property. Two hundred thousand
apple CRAFTS will be set out near Bill
lings next spring and also many,
smaller fruit and shade trees of diff
ferent kinds. It will occupy seve RAJ
years to get good start in the
thriving Yellowstone ya.ey