The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-18

by the United States department of
Agriculture, has just recently been
published. This report covers q print
ed pages and includes q large map
showing, by means Of colors. the dis
tribhtion of the various types Of soil.
The area surveyed includes the pres
tent stream valley of the Bitter Root
river. together with the adjacent old
er stream terraces and foothill slopes
The larger part of the area is in Ra-
valli county and the. remainder in Mis-
soula county.
The report discusses the agricul-
tural development of the valley, which
began with cattle raising before the
Civil war period. The present agricul-
ture consists of orcharding. grain
farming, stock raising, and dairying
The principal crops are apples, pears
cherries, small fruits. oats. wheat. and
other small grains, potatoes. hay and
peas. Stock raising remains one of the
most important interests. and dairying
to which the soil and climatic condi-
tons are well suited, is expanding.
Fruit Growing.
Fruit growing. the report states, was
begun about 10 years ago. At the
present time there are thousands Of
acres in orchards. most of which are
just coming into hearing. Orchards
have not been set out in any particu-
lar section of the valley, but sites have
generally been selected above the val
ley floor, the higher benches and foot
hill slopes being largely used. Fail
ures in fruit growing have resulted in
some cases from lack Of care in select
ing soils and from choosing sites with
out regard to the difficulty of irri-
CATION. the liability to erosion, or the
exposure to winter-killing or frosts.
The production of small fruits and
truck crops is not sufficiently large to
supply the local demands.
Grain farming always has been i'm
portant in the Bitter Root valley. Oats
and wheat are the principal grain
crops. Barley and rye are grown to a
small extent. A large total area is de-
voted to alfalfa. Miner crops grown
include. Canada field peas, and sugar
beets.
In discussing the general farming
conditions, the report states that the
equipment is of the most approved,
| modern type. Practically no attention
is given to the rotation of crops. Com
mercial fertilizers and manure are
used only in a small way.
The soils of the Bitter Root valley
are classed by the bureau of soils in
five groups. as follows Residual soils
glacial soils. soils derived from the
old ey-filling material. alluvial.
fan soils, and recent -alluvial soils.
Residual Soils.
| The residual soils have been formed
by the weathering and decomposition
of the underlying rock formations
The soils of this character in the Bit.
ter Root valley are classed in tn,
Moscow series. These soils occur main.
~ In the rough areas. above the leve
of irrigation. They are in most place,
coarse textured and stony and are O.
little agricultural value, being uset
mainly as grazing land.
Glacial Soil.
Soils derived from glacial materia
cover practically all the land on tn
west side OF the present valley of tn
Bitter Root river from the West Forl
on the south to Carleton creek on tn
north. except for the stream. bottom
lands and recent alluvial soils. Thes
soils are classed by the soil survey il
three series. The Lick series include
the soils deposited in the form O
moraines by tongues of ice which cx
tended down the narrow canyon
from the ice fields covering the high
err elevations of the Bitter Root rang
at some former time. The Como an
: Bass series include tho glacial soil
deposited as out wash fans by tor
! rents caused by melting ice. They ar
much more extensive and importan
than those deposited by the ice sheet
themselves. The Lick soils are drough
ty and hilly, and practically their onl
use Is for grazing. but the Bass an
1 ''"'''N pa'S IbdTJ
the agriculture of the valley. The
lie high above the valley floor an
fruits are less frequently injured tina
upon the lower-lying valley land
Water for irrigation is available frol
!, many streams The surface slop.
toward the east and the exposure
desirable for fruit culture. The Ba.
soils cover n large part of the are
surveyed. The stony sandy loan
u this series is the most extensive ty,
mapped, covering about II squa1
miles. The greater part of the lar
occupied by the Bass soils is und,
cultivation. They are we'll suited
orcharding. owing to their gener
easternly exposure. freedom fro
hardpan. good air drainage. and abu,
dant water supply. The princip
crops grown are apples. pears. che
: ries. grain and hay. Dairying and sto'
y raising are important branches
farming. The Como soils are light
colorcd than those of the Bass serit
They are of small extent and in &c,
49,. IL