24 MONTANA FARM REVIEW 



the increasing industrial activities over Montana, indicate possibilities of good future 

 local markets for poultry and eggs produced in the state. 



Turkey raising is rapidly increasing in importance. Montana climatic conditions, 

 the range conditions, natural range feeds, and the feeds raised locally, have proved to 

 be especially favorable factors toward economical production of turkeys. Well matured 

 birds can be produced in time for the Thanksgiving markets, and shipments of dressed 

 turkeys to central markets are fast assuming large proportions. 



Available statistics on poultry production in the state are confined chiefly to 

 the data collected by the U. S. Census Bureau. The following tables indicate the extent 

 and growth of the poultry industry in Montana. 



Bees and While Montana farmers have displayed less interest in the honey 



Honey industry than in other diversified lines, apiculture has made a steady 



growth. Statistics of the United States Bureau of the Census show 



that bees are kept on 1,918 farms in 35 counties. The first ten counties according to 



their rank in honey productions in 1919 were: Yellowstone, Carbon, Ravalli, Big Horn,- 



Sweet Grass, Cascade, Rosebud, Stillwater, Custer and Madison. 



Montana ranks near the top in the production of surplus honey per hive. In 1920 

 Wyoming ranked first, while Montana and California were tied for second place. Mon- 

 tana ranked first for the four year period of 1916-1919 with an average surplus of 86 

 pounds per hive. Wyoming was second. 



Apiculture is especially adapted to irrigated regions. Indirect benefits from bee- 

 keeping are probably of greater value than the surplus honey produced. These indirect 

 benefits are gained through the fertilization of plants by the pollen carried by the bees 

 from flower to flower. This work of the bee is not only important to the production of 

 fruits, but no less so to the attainment of full seed and fruit production in a number of 

 forage and grain plants. 



MONTANA WOOL PRODUCTION 

 (1880-1922.) 



Year Production (Pounds) Year Production (Pounds) 



1880 1,000,000 c 1904 37,773,000 n 



1886 5,031,000 • 1905 37,700,000 n 



1887 5,283,000 * 1906 35,815,000 n 



1888 unknown 1907 30,820,000 n 



1889 9,740,000 * 1908 32,200,000 n 



1890 13,929,000 * 1909 35,000,000 n 



1891 14,471,000 • 1910 33,600,000 n 



1892 15,670,000 * 1911 34,875,000 n 



1893 .' 17,697,000 * 1912 31,175.000 n 



1894 17,642,000 ♦ 1913 31,500.000 n 



1896 19.032,000 n 1914 30,177,000 u 



1896.... 21.530.000 n 1915 26.950,000 u 



1897 20,110,000 n 1916 24,570,000 u 



1898 20,935,000 n 1917 23,342,000 u 



1899 30,438,000 • 1918 18.685,000 u 



1900 26,020.000 • 1919 18.267.000 u 



1901 30,554,000 ♦ 1920 16,000,000 u 



1902 35,567,000 n 1921 16,400.000 u 



1908 30,600,000 n 1922 16,700,000 a-u 



c — Based upon Census data. 



• Estimates of S. N. D. North, Bureau of Statistics, U. S. Treasury Department. 



n — Estimates of National Association of Wool Manufacturers, 

 u — Estimates U. S. Department of Agriculture. 

 a — Tentative Revision. 



