Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1910-02-18

l'fO1. lnOmaS SnaW: The OPINION
is extensively held that corn cannot
be grown successfully in Montana,
especially is this opinion held with
reference to corn in the northern por-
tons of the state. This opinion orig
mated doubtless in the fact that much
of Montana lies so far to the north,
and in the further fact that so much
of the state is elevated. The fact is
lost sight of that the mean tempera-
ture in Montana is lower than that
further to the east. The truth is
that corn is going to be grown in
nearly all the valleys and on nearly
all the benches Of Montana. In a
good many localities it will be grown
for grain.
During recent trip through Mon
tana found corn matured and in the
shock north of Glasgow, which is on
parallel 4S degrees north latitude.
To my astonishment, the variety was
the Minnesota corn, University No.
IL. At Chester, within 100 miles of
the Rocky mountains, late kind of
corn brought from the central states,
was six feet high and was forming
ears. The elevation at Chester is
3l32 feet; north from Harlem II
miles and only Is miles from the
Canadian boundary, | saw corn Of a
late maturing variety, six feet high
and forming ears. At Great Falls |
saw corn grown in the vicinity that
had mature ears. 1t was a variety
OF corn that came from the corn belt.
At Great Falls with an elevation of
33l3 feet, | saw corn that had matured
ears on some Of it. The crop would
make between three and four tons of
matured corn per acre. At the ex-
pertinent farm, in the Judith Basin,
with MI elevation Of 4l6O feet, there
was grown between three and
four acres OF corn OF the Ninety-Day
variety, the seed Of which came from
Bismarck. n. ID. This corn has grain
on it nearly full size (Sept. 23),
though not planted till June Is, a
month later than it should have been
planted to grow at it's best. 1t was
planted to grow fodder and will GER
tainly make from three to four tons
OF cured fodder.
When the facts are all known these
results will not be surprising. in
Quired as to when frOsts ceased to
kill and as | was told from the first
to the middle of May, | inquired
with equal diligence when they be-
gan to kill in the fall, and they told
me from the middle to the end of
September. This gives practically
12O days without frost. Were it not
for the fact that the nights are cool
all the season through, Montana
would be great corn country. The
summer days are long and the bright
sunshine would hasten the growth of
the corn, but the cool nights will
confine the growth of corn in many
localities to the growth of corn
for fodder. But such fodder is of
good quality, it was simply fine be-
cause of the leafy growth, and then
in the dry autumn climate it cures so
brightly. Stock will eat it root and
branch. In some of the basins, as
that Of the Yellowstone, and in some
other localities, corn will be grown
Tor grain as well. Squaw corn can
be grown almost anywhere for the
grain.
1t was a revelation to me to Jour
ney from place to place in this noun
tain state from Sept. II to "a, and OBJ
serve corn from day to day without
the semblance of frost on the leaves.
The exception was at Chester, where
the leaves had been touched. The
tops of potatoes had on them the
greenness of summer where the vines
'i"Ne A'Ot yCe 1 WOuuu nave
concluded that this was exceptional
had not the people been so unanimous
in stating that it was not. 1t would
be outrageous to conclude that all
those bright people were deceiyers.
The fact that Montana can grow
corn fodder thus is of almost incalcul-
able moment to the people Of that
state. Along with the alfalfa which
they can grow on the dry land, these
corn crops are going to settle for them
the question of live stock. The ma
tive grasses in farming areas will be
thing of the past in few years,
and timothy and clover where the
rainfall is scant do not grow ut their
best. But where three tons and more
OF such excellent fodder can be OBJ
tanned per acre and where ono to ona