Omaha daily bee., 1911-01-27
PEASANTS WIN IN MONTANA
Wooden hoed Natives Of Holland
~ Thrive on Farms.
G. A MOANN GIVE MTERvIEw
Montana Man Tells How ImmiErnnts
settle on Land with Hardly Any
Money and Have surprisinE
Success with Crops.

wooden shoed peasant farmers from
Holland who have settled in the Hedges /
sections are our best farmers" said Mr..
{. a. Mccain. whose land products are
shown in the big booth fronting the North
ern Pacific exhibit 20 a Bee Land Show
writer this morning.
Those who did not pay cash for their
lands have not only been prompt in meet
ing their payments from crops grown by
them but - several instances they have
discounted ture installments.
"MontanG was land to these peo-
pie. and dontana 70 Ind climatic condi-
tions presented new problems, but they
were born tillers OF the soil and were
mentally alert industrious set. Some OF
the younger ones could speak little
English, which has aided them greatly;
but they were close observers, too, and
exceedingly imitative-thst Is, OF the farm
ers already on the ground who we're grow
Ing the biggest crops and had the best
stock"
Controls Large Area of Land.
Mr.. Mccain controls large area Of
lands in the vicinity OF Hedges, and is
coIonizer who believes in development and
practices cropping considerable tracts in
order 10 demonstrate their productivity,
have been coming into the Hedges country
in considerable numbers. from Minnesota,
Illinois, Iowa and other states Of the cen
trial west Whenever possible Mr.. Mccain
induces the new farmers to get together
In neighborhoods with the idea OF lessen
ing the social trials incident to homemak-
ing In a new country
What is known in Montana as the
Hedges section IL portion OF the great
Musselshell valley, in width about twenty
miles and in length about thirty miles. 1t
Is bounded on the south by the Musselshell
river and on the north by the Snowy noun
tains. This low lying range separates It
from the Judith basin, OF which It is In all
fSvoring aspects q prototype. 1t is
traversed by the Chicago. Milwaukee &
st. Paul and the b. & NJ. railways the
latter commonly known as a branch Of the
Great Northern.
Section Well watered.
The whole section is well watered," said
Mr.. Mccain, living springs being numer-
Gus and constant flow. Its principal water
resources are afforded by three never-fail.
ing streams, having their origin in thC
snowy mountains. The Snowy mountains
having some years since been created into
national forest by the federal govern
ment the water sources are converted ii
perpetuity.
THE soil in this section OF Montana Il
more than usually deep. It is a ligh
brown loam underlaid with a subson o
clay intermixed with limestone gravel. TIL
latter Is not a wash gravel, but consist
OF about two-thirds clay and one-thirt
lime gravel. which is nearly pure lime. No
having been subjected TO the teaching o
heavy rains for long periods Of time. an
not having been reduced by haWinl
forests removed. these soils are rich in al
the elements OF plant food. Nitrogen
phosphorus, lime and potash form a has
which gives the soil fine lasting qualities.
Rain Falls when Needed.
THE rainfall IN this section average
from sixteen TO twenty-five inches, occa
sionally going to above twenty-five inches
OF this precipitation about 80 per cent fall
during April, May. June and July-th
growing season--just when II is mos
needed. The later months are compars
lively devoid of rainfall, thus enablin
crops 20 be harvested with little DANCE
and at small cost for protection froi
the elements.
We have not yet found II necessary
summer fallow, for the reason that .ou
. farmers In the very early stages bega
crop rotations. So satisfactory have bee
the crops, even during the dry season
1910. that last fall seven new power pillow
ing outfits were bought and set at wor
by small companies formed exclusively
local farmers
Climatic Condition Ideal.
The climatic conditions in the Hedg,
section are not excelled anywhere in II
4 middle west or northwest. The clear, dr
air is extremely invigorRting and, con
bined with the large percentage of brigl
days, makes the climate one of the mo-
NN.A
days during the entire year in which GU
door work cannot be done with comfor
No one need fear the winters here. Tn,
are tempered by warm chinook winds ar
by the mountains, and are not as seve
as the winters further east. want
emphasize this matter of Montana weaths
Tor find that In no other respect Is OF
state more generally misunderstood.
lived for quarter of a century In Il
northern states OF the Mississippi vale
and our Montana winters are decidedly lie
severe
Formerly Was stock Country.
"In former years the Hedges sectit
wAs exclusively q stock growing countr
and for the main part the industry w
based upon the nutritious grasses of 4
open range. Tho inpouring of new 8,
tiers, who have turned the sod and put
into SrAins, has put an end to the ran
industry, and the Transformation now W
under way is from the free range. wi
its great herds and bands, to small
holdings OF a higher grade These will
IN increasing number fattened and fit
49, Tor the block on smaller areas of Lar
The experience Of recent years has sho,
that here can be grown cheapIy an Ia,
balanced ration for putting animals
marketable condition. Every year I
number OF stock growers who are conf
70 appreciate this truth increases, and Z
larger profits obtained makes the new {
IN stock growing attractive one
The well-belnE OF our farmers has he
made possible not alone by grain growi
and stock raising. however. There bs
been excellent profits derived from gard
vegetables and small fruits for these On
proiifieaiiy. Dairying is also a deveIopl
industry Taken all together special,
ana general farming have played saua
tmDOFtaut narfa