The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-03-17
FARMERS sure
OF GOOD CROPS
IN 1918 SEASON
Reservation People See Good
Year Ahead and Are
Busy.

Jus 0CGtiOu al tuC WuOiC otASCA S1SSs9Ns
This Is the opinion prevalent among
F1athead people.
And they have the enthusiasm to
back up their contention.
Any community that can come out Of
4 season OF acknowledgment brought
about by the drought Of last summer
with the optimism that IL flooding the
entire valley deserves tho best that n
IN tap. Hats of TO the reservation.
II takes more than crop failure u
krock the spirits Of determined Fiat
head farmers down and out They as1
staging a "come back" that VIII de-
nand the respect OF the fNnkest pes.
slmist.
eis Flowing Already oers.
What was their answer to adverse
weather conditions? What did they say
when the national administration said
America must grow moro food? Their
reply was not Observation-Disclosures than
the tramp, tramp Of horaes' feet and
the steady chug Of the farm tractor.
But they were making every move
count. Repentant Tor the damage
by scorching sun and cloudlass
skies, tho elements co-operated during
the fall and winter In the blowing game
and before frost finally put q stop 70
operations. more ground had BEEN ]
turned over than ever before: great
or acreage OF winter wheat had beeu
seeded and more fields made ready 1of
spring planting than WINS ever dreame9
possible.
Prospect d Encouraging.
| No wonder the ranchers are wearing
the smile that battles description while
paying out 80 u tom for hay 10 carry
| their stock through to the time Of green
pastures; no wonder they complain %
little when sometimes n n almost Inn
possible TO yet the roughage their farm
animals require They are looking
ahead confidently. supported BY pros
poets NJ good an though made to order.
Fall -sown wheat has w1ntered we'll:
1t has made an unprecedented growth
and the thawing and freezing Of tho
last couple OF weeks no far has been
without damage. Now they are hiding
their time. waiting for the call to tho
soil when every ounce Of energy II 10
be put forth In their determination -
make tho valley blossom like . gardslk
Conservative estimates put the acre.
age already piowed at 20 per cent
greater than that seeded year ago,
while more ground IL yet to be broken.
The government reservoir site has be1n
leased for agricultural purposes and
will this year produce its share In the
rational drive for the biggsst mod ppR-
duction the country has ever ran.
e-.,. - e...s.z11s. , =. VI Z =
A typical illustration ~ the efco5ts
that are being put forth 10 found IN the
case Of one rancher near Roman. Last
year he had 400 acres OF wheat. about
evenly divided between winter and
spring planting. This year he has a.
most 400 acres In winter wheat alone
and expects to sow many acres this
spring.
And spring Is opening up very rapid
~. The frost IL practically m out Of
the ground and farmers are assembling
! their feed and seed and are getting
ready for the big drive"
. Have Learned Lesson.
I But FTathead farmers are beginning
, to learn that there is more TO agrtcul-
| ture than mere wheat rnising. Their
!. experience with feed shortage durine
! the winter just closing has disclosed
!; the necessity of following diversified
farming. This is emphasized by the
3 fact that large areas are to be seeded
. this spring to clover and alfalfa. They
, are going to prepare Themselves for the
time next winter when the ranges ARK
covered with snow. 1t has been z
costly lesson they have learned bu'
they have learned II well.
Dairy;ns t. Increase.
As another step In getting away from
the crop idea, constantly more and
}" more cattle are finding their way onts
the reservation farms. Dairying In tn,
near future Is to find its place AZ ON
!, OF the chief industries of the valley
y "a creamery for every town." II IN
+ battle cry that Is being stimulated b,
. the recent organization OF the farm bu
,e rean In the northwestern part of Mis-
N SCUBA county. II II the answcr to tn
i alarm that soil robbtnS II the roa
ID To ruin. Fertility IL to be returned 1
e. the ground before the land u 70 ~
N pleted that II viii not grow q Respects
ne Bile crop Of weeds.
This Il an indication of progresslye
ness The modern farmer cahnot Il,
He has problems that require q
require the same careful study snd a
10 his affairs.
Sugar Bet industry Crews.
III More sugar beets are to be grown
Cd the valley this year. The rzilruad h
or lanticipated this stem by providing