The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-04-20
AcRIcuLTuRE IN MONTANA.

| Montana, first known as INNING sec
ton, is now actively engaged In develop.
ing her agricultural resources. At Boze-
man there is State college with faculty
numbering 60 that is doing good work
along the varied lines. The college re-
Gently sent out better farming special
train on two weeks tour of the State.
The train contained nine cars filled with
practical ideas and illustrations in charge
of the heads of the various departments
of the college. VIM. F. Schoppe. U. of
M, was in charge of the poultry depart
ment. In the exhibit cars were shown
types of the dairy and beef breeds of
cattle, good type of the draft horse,
various breeds of poultry, with expla-
nations as to which was the best for
various special purposes; some types
of sheep and swine, with the points in
favor of each explained by the man in
charge. There was an exhibit of station
airy farm machinery and one of field ma
chinery, and a man in charge to answer
any questions; also an exhibit of domes-
tic machinery with utilities of each in
operation by gas engines. There was a
large and interesting exhibit of grains,
soils in different conditions in relation to
tillage, and exhibits in the veterinary
department with men in charge to ex-
plain any points the interested visitors
might wish. There was fine horticul-
tural exhibit with a competent and sue
cessful grower in charge, as well as a
special dairy exhibit which included a
successful milking machine and a handy
trap nest for hens which was simple
enough to be made on any farm. The
biological and chemical departments
were we'll represented and the mechani-
cal arts also, while the domestic science
department was made specially interest
ing to the ladies'. The attendance was
large at all the points visited.
Similar work was inaugurated in Maine
some years ago by the University of
Maine, the Maine Central railway CO.
operating; but in horticulture Montana
seems to be in advance of Maine. At
the recent meeting of the Eastern Mon
tana Horticultural society in Laurel,
Prof. M. L. Dean of Missoula gave an
address on "Blight and Insect Pests"
from which we learn that Montana has
the strongest horticultural laws of any
State in the northwest; that they give
the State board authority to go into any
place or any property and destroy dis
eased trees; that Montana is the clean
est from insect pests of any State in the
Union" and that horticulture has in
creased land values, in from two to five
years, from S. to $500, and as high as
81, 900 per acre 1t is a criminal offense
in Montana to use an apple box, fruit
package or wrapping the second time for
any purpose whatever. No gfocerymen
can legally put groceries in an apple box
for convenience to be transported into
the country.
Prof. Dean told his hearers that ''there
is absolutely no danger of over-produc-
ton. Less than rs per cent of the trees
planted ever comes into a producing
orchard. Millions of people have never
been able to learn the taste of an apple
because of the prohibitive price asked
for this fruit when it reaches the large
cities. Grow more, distribute and pack
them as they should be and there will
always be demand for superior grade
of fruit