Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1909-05-14

cVlHluS tiIlS COuutTv. ~ young uldIl
writes from Chicago recently, and his
questions covering the entire category
Of possible inquiries we take pleasure
in answering them in detail.
Will you kindly give me some infOr-
nation on soil Of judith Gap country
III regard to raising wheat?
First it may be necessary to explain
what the Judith Gap country is meant
to consists Of in area so that the ans
wers may be understood to apply to
all the territory and not any parti-
cular portion OF this section Of the
country. When the Judith Gap coun-
try is mentioned it is understood to
consist of the famous Judith Basin.
the Musselshell country south OF the
Snowy mountains, and the famous
Lake Basin country in Yellowstone
county to Billings. This strip OF
country lies III Fergus. Meagher and
Yellowstone counties, and when this
paper refers to the Judith Gap coun-
try it means particularly all this strip
of agricultural lands. Prof. Shaw of
the University of Minnesota agricul-
tural college, the leading agronomist
of the United States, has recently
made an investigation of the soil of
this country for wheat growing pos
sibilities. In his report he showed
that there were the right properties
in the soil to make it the best Of
wheat land. He also thought that
the fact that sheep had ranged over
the land for many years was big
benefit. The soil is deep with
slight sprinkling of limestone OH the
surface, none of the stones, however,
are so large as to give trouble. Prof.
Shaw prefers the brown soil to the
black loan for wheat production.
Winter wheat of the turkey red vari-
ETY. has yielded as high rs Y bushels
to the acre in this country without
irrigation. There never has been
failure Of winter wheat crops i'll the
Judith Gap country.
Can one homestead on 1850 acres and
take Il desert claim of 100 adjoining.
making 22O, and how far from town?
Yes; 32O acres can be taken as Il
homestead and desert, adjoining or
segregated. The open lands now are
located from five to fifteen miles from
present railroad markets, but as rail
roads are contemplating building all
over this country, eventually you
will be nearer markets than at
present.
How many acres Oh each 100 can be
plowed for wheat?
That depends on your selection of
land. Nobody has taken up land in
this territory where at least 30 per
cent of it cannot be titled.
Is there any alkali in the soil or
drinking water?
Along some of the sluggish streams
there are alkali strips, but there is
no alkali Oh the benches, which are
considered the best farming lands.
The is no alkali in the drinking water,
which is soft and pure and very
wholesome.
Is the rainfall and snow sufficient
to raise wheat without farming under
the Campbell system?
The rainfall and snow is sufficient
to raise winter wheat without irriga-
tion, but the best results have been
obtained in following the Campbell
system Of soil culture. Without it
you can raise from 20 to 30 bushels of
winter wheat to the acre; with the
Campbell system followed, the yield
can be made as high as y bushels and
never less than 40, hence everybody
who wants to get all there is in farm
ing here are following the Campbell
system of scientific dry farming.
Are the winters long and severe?
No. The winters are delightful with
the exceptions of possibly three weeks
of cold weather all told, but not con-
tinnously. With the past winter,
which is an average one, there was
a blizzard in October with Il heavy
fall of SNOW. 1t lasted three DAYS.
A few days thereafter the chinook
took the snow off and the weatherwas
mild and balmy until the first of the
year. A few days of cold weather in
January were followed by chinooks.
February was delightful. March had
a few cold days, while April was
blustry, cold and good deal of snow
fell. The weather is much milder
here in the winter than it is in Min
nesOta or the DakOtas. The summers
cannot be beaten anywere east of the
Rocky mountains.
Is there any stone or sage brush on
this land:
The stone and sage brush run in
streaks. For miles and miles you
will see neither. when you will run
onto both for short distance. But
l., ,-l~