The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1921-03-18

- odu
Commissioners at Helena, under date
of December, 1920, it is stated that
there are over ninety-three million
acres of land in this state of which
two-thirds are classified as forests and
grazing, the other one third being ag-
r%icultural land. In other words, as
Stunning that none of the land classified
as forests and grazing can be used
for agricultural purposes, there are at
least thirty-one million acres suitable
for~agriculture. On page eight of the
same book it shows that there are five
million two hundred and lightweight
thousand acres of land in the state
which are irrigated at the present
time or can be irrigated in the future.
This leaves a balance of over twenty
five millions of agricultural land which
must be farmed without assistance of
irrigation or else be used for stock
purposes in the old-fashioned way. A
great many people do not realize that
there is such an enormous area OF ag-
ricultural land in this state which can
not be irrigated.
Farming and ranching may be di-
vided into three classitications: first
stock raising; second, irrigation; third,
dry farming. These naturally should
all work together for the mutual good.
Each one individually is exceedingly
necessary. The state as a whole is in
a wonderful position as a stock raising
state due to the splendid quality of the
grass cured on the stump. Stock rails
ing will always be a large factor be-
cause of such a large percentage of the
total acreage is specially adapted to
that purpose only. 1t is right and pro-
per to irrigate every acre Of land pos
ible because it gives further assurance
of successful crops and provides great
er diversity. Irrigated land will al
ways be worth more money than any
other agricultural land. Therefore, the
more land placed under irrigation, the
more wealth created.
The bulk of the grain will ultimately
be produced upon the vast unirrigated
benches. 1t seems reasonable to assume
that if this is not so, Montana will not
produce very much grain. 1t has been
demonstrated that when it rains suffi-
GENTLY so that grass grows for the
stockman, a good crop of grain can be
raised on the dry land by following
proper methods. The population of
Montana is increasing. The ranches
are getting smaller in size. This
means that it will be necessary to raise
some hay on the irrigated land to feed
the stock because the grazing areas
are being reduced.
We like to make ourselves believe
that the past five years have been
abnormal, and in that way explain our
crop failures, and in a like manner in
fer that when conditions get back to
normal, we will again have good crops.
A careful study of statistice does not
rrove this to be true. During the last
six years we nave had three abnormal
and three normal years. 1915 and 1916
were both abnormal because they were
wet years. 1919 was abnormal be-
cause it was unusually dry. During
the. next ten " twenty years, we will
probably have more seasons similar
to 1917, 1913 and 1920 than any other.
In 1915 and 1916 the state enjoyed eX-
ceptionally fine crops because of the
unusual precipitation. If we continue
to farm in the future as in the past
we cannot possibly expect as good
crops even with an equal amount OF
moisture simply because the land is
so foul due to poor farming.
Under successful agricultural
methods as followed in other dry farm
ing countries, good crops could have
been produced in Montana during the
last six years except 1919. There IS
no reason why these results cannot be
/ obtained here, as other countries nave
been successful under less favorable
circumstances. .
We are informed that the Big Bend
country in Oregon was homesteaded IN
1888. The homesteaders farmed eX-
--ll- - lla-y -.,o -, Montana Ihny
| had the same experiences that we are
having, and a great deal OF the land
, went into the hands of farm loan com-
panies. About 1895 a new class of set
tiers came in and took over the land
S and farmed according to proper dry
e farming methods, causing the country
= to become prosperous, making them
e selves rich and raising land values
s from little or nothing up to eighty to
e one hundred and fifty dollars per acre.
n We are informed that the railfall in
: this particular section of Oregon aver
: ages from seven to ten inches over a
Il long period of years. The average at
Chinook, Montana. for the last thirty
n nine years is thirteen and seventy-siX
k hundredths inches.
Many men have been successful IN
o dry farming in Montana. In almost
d every district some mar has proven
l. the success of this method. Mr.. Alvin
c. Hull who lives on Section l4-25 N
l. 3W, which is straight west of Collins
II Montana, has produced successful pay
n ing crops each year except 1919, ano
n he did not have a failure IN 1919. Mr.
l. +. X. Graham who has resided on his
ranch three miles east OF button fol
nine years has produced fifteen bush.
els per acre, or more, every single veal
i the past nine years excepting 1919.
In supplement to Bulletin No. /