Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-08-02


The prospect of a 400, 900 bushel APP
pie crop for Montana in 1928 as indi-
Gated in the forecast of state and fed
eral departments of agriculture, means
that Western Montana growers will
virtually double their 1927 production
in this years harvest. says the state
publicity office. The final estimate of
1927 production placed the crop at
217 900 bushels for the state.
Western Montana counties and espe-
cially Ravalli, Missoula, Flathead and
Lake will re p the bulk Of the profit
from the greatly increased production
and will PROBABLY this year ship out of
the state more carloads of the famed
Montana Mcintosh apples than have been
put on the market for several years.
Since approximately 80 per cent Of all
apple trees in the state are within the
boundaries of northwestern and west
central counties, the Importance of the
crop to these districts is evident.
AS early as the first Of May. Bitter Root
apple trees showed promise OF good bloom
and the season has continued with but
few setbacks. On May IL the report to
the state division of publicity for Mis-
soula and Ravalli counties read, NC
Intosh bloom appears to be all that or
chardists could DESIRE; on May 10;
Weather fine for fruit bloom which is
coming out in good condition generally"
A light frost during the week of June
2 caused a little damage and on June
8 the report read, The apple crop is
quite heavy in some localities but with
out a later drop coming this month the
prospect is fairly good. Some orchards
have a fine set while in others the drop
was too heavy" BY June 80 the crop
Was rpnOrtaH ac domino aInnu in uonH
shape nj now looking as favorable as
earlier estimates indicated" The reports
summarize the season to date in the or
chards of Western Montana and show the
reason for the preliminary forecast made
by the federal department Of agriculture,
division of crop estimates, of a crop Of
100000 bushels for 1928.
National Production
I Production of apples in the nation as
a whole will also show an increase this
year over last, according to the July l
forecast. giving a better stocked market
for Montana growers to contend with.
The 1927 national production was APP
proximately 25,900,0 900 bushels. while this
years forecast indicates a crop of 3d.
100, 900 bushels.
Potatoes Show Decrease
OF interest to Western Montana agri-
cultural areas is the situation in potato
production this year. Last year a record
was made of 5,265 900 bushels Of pota-
toes from $1,000 acres. The crop was
sold on a rising market throughout the
fall and winter months. This year acre
age was increased to AZ, 900 acres, and
production forecast by the July crop re-
port at 4,148, 900 bushels.
Potato planting started this year about
the middle of May and continued
through the first week in June. BY June
80, the report from Flathead county to
the publicity division said, Most fields
OF potatoes are over the ground and
others are receiving blind cultivation. .
Unfavorable conditions following plant
Ing were responsible for uneven stands
reported in LeWis and Clark and Ravalll
counties early in June which at least
partially accounts for the decrease Ia
statewide production.
Dairying Booms
1t is predicted that 1923 will be q
banner year for the dairy industry, an
other branch of the states agriculture Of
particular interest to Western Montana
According to B.. F. Thrailkill, chief of
the dairy division, an increase in all lines
OF dairy production was noted during
the first five months Of this year. From
January to June 5, 5,524, 534 pounds OF
butter, 726,404 pounds of cheese and
50o,oUl gallons Of ice cream were pro-
duced IN the state. an increase for each
OF the three products over the first five
months in 1927.
Large Crop for State
DIR the entire state the harvest of q
total acreage Of crops that will exceed
all previous records is forecast. Produc-
ton Is forecast for wheat at So, 2O8. OOC
bushels, oats, 14.554, 900 bushels and hay
1852. 900 tons.
The crop will be fairly uniform" say
recent releases from the state publicity
Office according to present indications
while conditions are poor in some spots
no large area of the state is likely to suf-
Ter a total failure as was the case In q
Few counties in 1925 and 1925.
Chinook Merchant Dies