The Dickinson press., 1910-10-22

in evidence. There 10 considerable of
an acreage already in bearing orchards
but the bearing area is not a circum-
stance to the area in small trees. The
entire orchard area of the Bitter Root
Valley is only q small fraction of the
valley that can be put under irrigation.
The rainfall of the Valley al Hamilton
amounts to between ii and IL inches
annually.
We visited the orchard of j. B. Tay-
Tor. He is an old settler coming there
from Iowa. His orchard presented a
magnificent sight. An honest descrip.
tion of it given in an advertising book
let would be considered a fairy tale by
eastern people. Mr.. Taylor has 40 acres
in bearing. The trees are set out when
la year old. They begin bearing the
third summer after setting. Mr.. Taylor
has 80 trees of Johnathan apples which
bore % boxes the third season, 80
boxes the fourth season and the
fifth season. in 1909. these trees bore
300 boxes of fruit. As 81 trees are set
to the acre and as the fruit sold readily
for ST. so per box, one can readily see
the profits made. Mr.. Taylor stated that
his 40 acres of fruit netted him $14. 600
in 1909. We took a long auto ride from
Florence, another town in the Bitter
Root Valley, and in the course of the
ride, we visited the large project of the
Bitter Root Valley Irrigation Co. 1t
cost something like two million dollars
to get the water to the land. They tap
ped a lake up in the mountains and the
water is carried along the mountain
side. over the river and to the orchard
many miles away. They have. be-
lieve, IS. 900 acres in orchards now and
a large area is yet to be planted. This
is being sold to investors in five and ten
acre tracts.
We arrived at Missoula, which lies at
the foot of the Valley. at~4 80 O'Clock.
The Commercial Club took us in hand,
and showed us over the beautiful city.
In ten years Missoula has grown, from a
struggling village of 1000 inhabitants
to a hustling metropolitan town of H.
600. Its stores are comparable to the
best found in such cities as Cleveland or
Bluffs 10. Its we'll paved streets are
brilliantly lighted and it boasts many
beautiful houses.
All roads lead to Rome and all valleys
lead to Missoula. Not only does the
produce of the Bitter Root Valley pass
through Missoula but the city draws up
on the Missoula Valley, upon the
Hellsate Valley, upon the Blackfoot
Valley. and upon the Flathead reserva-
ton. which is now being developed.
Nothing but a decree of the Almighty
can prevent Missoula developing into a
fine city.
We left Missoula late in the evening
and early Monday morning found us ap-
preaching Spokane. the center of dry
farming interests, in the rain. While
the first day was d %isagreeable. condi-
tions were better the rest of the week
except for some cloudy weather.
DRY FARMING CONGRESS
The sessions of the congress were very
interesting as a rule and some impor-
tant papers were presented. While
North Dakota is not quite so dry as
some of the more western states it was
we'll represented at the Congress and the
state was able to give a good account
of itself. The address, which above all
others commanded admiration. was that
delivered by Pres. j. H. Worst upon
agricultural education in the rural
schools. The Spokane paper spoke of
the address as sensational and its de-
livery met with the most hearty accord.
The success of the paper put Pres. Worst
in line for nomination as president of
the Congress and his election wal Sc
c:1ed without difficulty.
THE INTERSTATE FAIR
During the sessions of the Congress,
the Interstate Fair was on at Spokane.
This proved to be very interesting. In
a large tent were shown dry farming ex-
hibits under the auspices of the Con-
gress. Practically every Western state
was represented and even Australia sent
in an exhibit. Some of the displays
were remarkably fine. The two most
striking nes were those of the Northern
Pacific and of the province of Alberta.
The fruit exhibit at the fair was moth
ing short of marvellous. Particular stress
was laid upon the apples. That fruit
seems to be a favorite one of the west.
The westerners give US statistics indicat-
ing that the production Of apples has
steadily decreased during the last few
years but surely this should not happen
in the future when the orchards ofWash-
ington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana once
get into bearing. Some very fine collec-
tions Of grapes were shown but l presume
| Tho nNpthurookovN . ok~A~. 80. n ~.