CROP PRODUCTION STATISTICS 23 



POTATOES 



A slight increase in acreage combined with a higher acre yield gave the state 

 in 1925 a crop of 3,780,000 bushels of potatoes compared with 2.992,000 bushels 

 in 1924. Due to the short crop, nationally. Montana growers this year have 

 averaged a farm price of $1.60 i^er bushel compared with 87 cents in 1924, in- 

 creasing the total value of the crop in 1925 to $0,048,000 against $2,603,000, the 

 value of the 1924 production. In the eastern third of the state, where the bulk 

 of the acreage is in small patches for farm food, yields were reduced by the same 

 drought effects that operated in case of other crops, but in the more important 

 producing sections of the central and western parts of the state, yields generally 

 were above average. Some losses resulted from the unfavorable wet weather 

 that prevailed through most of the digging season and likewise some poor quality 

 resulted. Prices, however, were such as to encourage extra effort and the bulk 

 of the crop was secured. 



The effect of this season's higher prices on marketings is indicated from carlot 

 movement of Montana potatoes to date of February 20th, which was 886 cars 

 against 259 cars to the same date a year ago and 423 cars the total movement 

 from the 1924 crop. 



APPLES 



The 1925 apple crop was one of the smallest since the state entered upon 

 commercial production, due both to the summer drought of 1924, which caused 

 much neglect of orchards in the important Bitter Root sections, as well as the 

 December freeze which came in the winter of 1924-1925 and resulted in considerable 

 tree damage. Orchards in 1925 generally showed a very heavy wood growth, 

 presenting a difficult pruning problem. Many old orchards were pulled in 1925 

 and considerable work was done by orchardists in preparing for a better procpect 

 in 1926. State production of apples in 1925 was placed at 80.000 bushels compared 

 with 290,000 in 1924, which was also a short crop. Production in 1923 was 

 990,000 and in 1922 610,000 bushels. 



The short crop of 1925 is reflected in the small marketings up to February 

 20th which were 27 cars against a total of 165 cars moving to the same date last 

 year and 173 cars, total movement from the 1924 crop. 



MONTANA APPLE PRODUCTION 



Crop Year Total Crop Cars Shipped 



1925 80,000 bushels * 



1924 290,000 bushels 173 



1923 990,000 bushels 451 



1922 610,000 bushels 351 



1921 975,000 bushels 687 



♦Movement from 1925 crop to date of February 20, 1926, has been 27 cars. Shipping 

 season from August to May 31st. 



OTHER FRUITS AND AND MISCELLANEOUS 



Pears, plums and prunes have been grown in varying small quantities in 

 the valleys west of the Continental Divide, although the December freeze of 1924 

 caused considerable damage to these less hardy fruit trees. Sweet cherries are 

 also grown to a small extent in the Flathead valley and canning cherries in the 

 Bitter Root valley. Strawberries in the Bitter Root valley in 1925 returned a 

 generally good crop. In southeastern Montana watermelons are grown in small 

 commercial quantities, principally in Rosebud County. 



HAY 



Total production of hay in 1925 was but slightly below that of 1924. Although 

 average yield was but 1.39 tons per acre compared with 1.43 tons in 1924 and 



