THE GEOGRAPHY OF PRODUCTION 



Topography and Climate Have Created Three Regions in Montana in Each of 



Which Distinct Farming Systems and Methods Have Been 



Evolved — The Livestock Industry. 



With a potential fanning area, according to experts, as large as the state of 

 Illinois ; a grazing area the size of Indiana ; and a mountain and forest region 

 equal in area to Kentucky, Montana has a widely diversified agricultural and 

 livestock industry. Instead of there being one system of farming and of live- 

 stock raising, there are several systems, each calling for certain standard crops 

 and crop rotations, or livestock species and methods of handling them. 



The thrust of the main range of the Rocky Mountains, north and south, 

 through the state, is responsible for this. It places the western one-fifth of the 

 state on the Pacific slope where climatic conditions and agricultural opportuni- 

 ties are markedly different from the remainder of the state. Another one-fifth 

 of the state occupies the east-ern slopes of the mountains, which, at an eleva- 

 tion of 4,000 to 5,000 feet, sink into the undulating plains which occupy the 

 remaining three-fifths of the state's area. 



The district west of the main range is best adapted to diversified and spe- 

 cialized farming, dairying and horticulture ; the district on the eastern slope of 

 the moiuitains and the higher plains, to livestock raising and general farming ; 

 the plains region, to livestock raising and general farming with a crop standard 

 somewhat different from that in the eastern slope district. 



Heavily timbered mountain ranges occupy most of the surface of western 

 Montana which is wholly within the Upper Columbia drainage basin. They shade 

 abruptly into foothills and valleys, the latter having elevations 

 The Western varying from less than 2.000 feet to 5,000 feet. Most of the 

 Montana Region larger valleys are open. The agricultural cut-over areas of the 

 state are in the smaller valleys and on the benches. Agriculture 

 is confined to the valleys and the benches. Irrigated farming is the dominant 

 type, though there is some non-irrigated farming In the foothills and on the 

 benches. In the extreme western comities, farming as practiced in the humid 

 regions is the rule. The Bitter Root, Flathead and Missoula valleys are the 

 most important agricultural districts. Soil and climate adapt them especially to 

 diversified and specialized farming such as dairying, horticulture, poultry and 

 swine raising. The horticultural reputation of the Bitter Root was achieved and 

 is maintained on the Mcintosh apple and is expanding on the sour cherry, which 

 reaches the eastern markets when no other varieties are available and, conse- 

 (luently. has always commanded a good price. This cherry is also in big demand 

 by canners. The Flathead Lake region is particularly adapted to the sweet 

 cherry. The Bitter Root and Flathead valleys rank with the best developed, and 

 diversified, and, during the past few years, have been among the most prosperous agri- 

 cultTu-al districts in the state. Marketing organizations of fruitgrowers and dairy- 

 men there have successfully stood the test of time. What has been accomplished 

 in the Bitter Root is possible in the other valleys where agriculture was, com- 



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