NORTH AMERICAN STATES 



NORTH AMERICAN STATES 2255 



flowers and plants produced in 1909 was $474,360, as 

 compared with $120,249 in 1899. 



Tlio acreage devotetl to mirscry products increased 

 from 2,093 in 1899 to 3,847 in 1909,'wlien tlie value of the 

 nurserj- products was $1,253,110, as compared with 

 $314,511 in 1899. X. V. Muxson. 



MOUNTAIN STATES. 



Montana. 



_ Montana (Fig. 2524) is the third largest state in the 

 Union, Texas and CaUfornia being first and second 

 respectively. The eastern part of ^lontana is unduKv 

 ting plains country, with a mean average altitude of 

 2,800 feet above sea-level. In a mountainous state 

 covering over 145,000 square miles, there are possibili- 

 ties for great local variations, and Montana is not an 

 exception. From east to west the average length is 535 

 miles, while from north to south it measures 275 miles. 

 Of the land surface, about 30,000,000 acres are moun- 

 tainous. The forest reserve embraces over 20,000,000 

 acres, including some which have agricultural possi- 

 bihties. About 6,000,000 acres of the tillable lands are 

 under irrigation, or are possible 

 of irrigation, and about the same 

 acreage is possible of cultivation 

 under the dry-farming system. 



Along the southern boundary, 

 about 125 miles west of the state 

 line, are the Wolf Mountains; 

 west of these the Rosebud and 

 Prj'or mountains; toward the 

 northern boundarj- and 175 miles 

 west of the state hne are the 

 Little Rockies; west of these the 

 Bear Paws; while dotted over 

 the eastern and central part of 

 the state are the Moccasins, and 

 the Big and Little Snowies, the 

 Belts, the Highwoods, and the 

 Crazies. These, with the excep- 

 tion of the Belts, are isolated 

 from other mountains, or de- 

 tached spurs from the main 

 range, and abound in the excep- 

 tional advantages which arise 

 from good soil, favorable ex- 

 posure, and convenient means for 



irrigation. About the center of the southern state line 

 the main range of the Rockies is encountered. This 

 range traverses the state from this point in a north- 

 westerly direction. The summits of the main range 

 vary from 7,500, to 10,000 feet above sea-level, and 

 present mighty barriers to the winter storms which 

 sweep over the country to the east and south of Mon- 

 tana, often bringing intensely cold weather in their 

 wake. The climate of the state is also sensibly affected 

 by chinooks, those much misunderstood currents of 

 warm air which rob winter of its terrors in regions 

 visited by them. The botanist and horticulturist have 

 much to learn, as yet, concerning the effect of altitude 

 upon plant growth. In a general way, it is supposed 

 that 9,000 feet is the so-called limit of timber, although, 

 as a matter of fact, it often happens that above this point 

 the crowns of the mountains are composed of living rock 

 devoid of soil and other nrerled adjuncts of tree growth. 

 Illustrations of the unwillingness of plant growth to be 

 circumscribed by altitudinal hues are found in the 

 city of Denver, which lies 5,000 feet above sea-level. 

 There many trees have been successfully transplanted 

 from their natural habitat, at sea-level along the shores 

 of Puget Sound to a point nearly a mile aloft , and into 

 a chmate a-s naturally dissimilar a.s could well be founfl. 

 In Cheyenne, Wyoming, there is a luxuriant devclo[>- 

 ment of the black locust at an elevation of 6,100 feet. 



This is a tree that has to be most carefully handled to 

 avoid winter-killing in Minne.sota, 5,500 feet nearer 

 se.a-level. 



In the sugar-beet chart of the Department of Agri- 

 culture, a great variation of altitude will be found. It 

 is designed to show the extent of the country in the 

 United States adapted to beet-culture. This starts at 

 the Atlantic coast at sea-level, extending due westward 

 to the Umit of Wisconsin. From there it jumps to 

 Colorado, California, and also embraces the Yellow- 

 stone Valley, which is one of the most prolific sections 

 in the beet area, considering tonnage and sugar-con- 

 tent. One of the largest sugar-beet factories in the 

 United States is locatetl at Billings, which is the largest 

 city in the Yellowstone Valley. 



Horticulturally, Montana presents conditions for the 

 growing of a large list of fruits, excepting the citrous 

 and other subtropical fruits. Some scientific experi- 

 ments have been conducted to determine the species 

 adapted, and much is now being done to determine the 

 varieties of species best suited to Montana's condi- 

 tions. Observation teaches that all western sections 

 shovild be carefully studied regarding the presence of 

 alkali, as fruit-trees will not thrive in alkali soil. It ia 



^T^T^JC r^tiCS 



2524. Montana, with regions best adapted to horticulture. 



not usually a hard matter to determine such conditions, 

 as irrigation or natural water-fall brings the salts to the 

 surface where they rapidly crystallize. On the benches 

 near the mountains, which are the desirable fruit- 

 lands, alkaU is seldom found. 



The natural conditions for fruit-growing in Montana 

 have been such that if trees were planted, a bountiful 

 harvest, in due time, was assured, but with the evolu- 

 tionary changes of conditions which always follow 

 development, today the degree of success is measured 

 by the skill and aptitude of the grower. Water for 

 irrigation is to be found in abundance. Under irriga- 

 tion, during the growing season, the moisture-content 

 of the sou is under absolute control, which, combined 

 with the bright sun and the clear atmosphere, makes 

 for a strong normal growth, and by proper regulation 

 of cultivation and irrigation, this growth is properly 

 matured and ripened for the winter. 



The lay of the valleys between the mountain ranges, 

 and the frequency of the canons which open out upon 

 the benches and plains below, create air-currents which 

 arc almost a guarantee against frost-injury. These cur- 

 rents can be noticed long distances from the mouths 

 of the caiions, and especially on the benches. They also 

 prevent frosts, which gives the fruit more time for 

 maturity than in the open country, or on level areas. 



Pioneer orcharding was started with many obstacles. 



