to over 150,000 in 1928. Montana turkeys bring good prices and often command 

 a premium for quality. The value of turkeys sold in the state .last year is thought 

 to have exceeded $500,000. 



ESTIMATED SALES OF POULTRY AND POULTRY PRODUCTS 



YEAR Chickens and Eggs Other Poultry Total 



1924 $2,926,000 $718,000 $3,644,000 



1925 3,240,000 819,000 4,059,000 



1926 3,360,000 861,000 4,221,000 



1927 3,334,000 854,000 4,188,000 



1928 3,484,000 880,000 4,314.000 



BEES AND HONEY 



Production of honey in 1928 from what facts are available is indicated to 

 have fallen about 15 per cent below that of 1926. On the other hand, a better 

 organization of growers and of marketings resulted in better prices to producers. 



BEES HONEY WAX 



Produced Value Produced Value 



YEAR No. Farms No. Hives (lbs.) $ (lbs.) $ 



1909 795 6,313 135,510 21,802 394 133 



1919 1,199 11,918 630,608 157,656 7,682 2,614 



1926 (est)* 1,800 37,000 3,150,000 302,000 23,000 9,000 



1927 1,800 37,000 2,500,000 262,000 20,000 6,000 



1928 1,800 37,000 



FUR FARMING IN MONTANA 



The number of fur farms in the state, according to the State Publicity Di- 

 vision, has more than doubled in the last three years. An interesting fact about 

 the farms is that they are scattered in 37 of the 56 counties of the state. Flat- 

 head leads with 15 fur farms, Yellowstone has seven, Lake has six. Carbon and 

 Gallatin five each. Other counties having more than two farms are: Missoula, 

 Sanders, Stillwater, Park, Lincoln, Deer Lodge, Ravalli and Broadwater. 



Some of the farms have been quite successful. One near Kalispell is an 

 example. Started from a small beginning a few years ago, the ranch now not 

 only breeds and raises silver foxes but also takes fox pups from Alaska breeders 

 for finishing off, as the Montana climate is known to produce the finest quality 

 fur. Another is said to be the largest muskrat farm under fence in the United 

 States. Five acres are fenced near Swan Lake in Lake County and more than 

 100 experimental pens have been constructed. It is expected that within a short 

 time the ranch will produce 20,000 to 30,000 pelts annually. A farm in Yellow- 

 stone county raises skunks, otter, raccoon, possum, mink and muskrat. An ac- 

 count of this farm says: "Furs shipped from this section of the country com- 

 mand a higher price as a rule than those from other states, climatic conditions 

 being good for the production of high quality fur." 



A farm in Mineral County has domesticated lynx and one in Missoula County 

 now has about 600 foxes. A ranch in Cascade County has purchased 1,000 pair 

 of muskrats, while one north of Corvallis, in the Bitter Root, raises Karakul 

 sheep, the bearers of Persian lamb fur for trimming wearing apparel, besides 

 black foxes, skunk, raccoon and muskrat. 



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