Connecticut western news., 1873-06-06
A Colorado Farm.
Meadow spriMgs-.A Wise Farmer--Ad. .a vice to Younx Settlers.

H r. Meadow SpriMgs--A Wise Farmer--Ad.1 .a vice to Yoang Settlers.
 After drive of four miles, says cor respondent, writing from Greeley,
 Colorado, We came into 8 beautiful val ley, two miles wide and several miles long. The ground has gentle slope to the southeast, and on all sides are bluffs and craggy precipiees of no great height, jbut sufficient to break the wind.
 A field of about 600 acres has been in- closed by durable fence, and on the southern side is large dwelling, and beyond large barn connected with sheds, and yards as extensive and as we'll designed as can be found in any of the States. All this is known as Meadow Springs Farm, owned by | Mr. Maynard, whom came hither little over three years ago that he might raise sheep and cattle. He has at present 1 about 1,20O head of cattle and 1000 sheep, and the sum total of his invest ment has been, $50, ,00O. The house is large and elegantly furnished, and books and pictures abound. The best breeds or chickens and ducks are kept ill large numbers in appropriate quarters, and shepherd, terrier and hunting dogs are many. It the stables are IS horses, in the yards several hundred merino ewes, equal to the best Vermont sheep, while the main hocks are out on the range in the care of shepherds. In other places are to be seen young Durham cattle of high strain, as attested by a handbook Mir. Maynard has had printed. Large ricks of hay, amounting to more than 800 tons, were near by, but thus far it has scarcely been touched. This hay is as green as the hay ever appears when first cut in Eastern meadows, for brain has ever fallen on it. From ten to if teen men are constantly employed. About fifteen acres of land were plowed last year, and potatoes, peas, and some l other crops planted, but not much. The soil is exceedingly rich, and the yield of crops was heavy, although no rain fell, nor was water applied by irrigation.
 Choice animals are fed with grain and corn meal, which is brought by the car-lood from Kansas or Nebraska. In a central part of the stable is a well 2} feet deep, and water can be obtained anywhere in the valley at this depth. Tn the center of the valley and along line of more than a mile are as many as a hundred springs, from six inches to six feet across, bubbling up through sand and rising to level with the general surface. They never freeze, for the temperature of the water, the year round, is 49 degrees. No fish are found, but trout are to be brought hither from the mountain rivers, and of course they will do we'll. The water from these springs forms fine stream, but about a mile and half below the house it sinks and disappears. Fourteen miles distant the Foot Hills begin, and here pitch pine is obtained in any desired quantity for fuel. Coal has been found two miles distant, and used for fuel Stone is abundant in the crags. Wild ducks and geese frequent the water in the meadows. Antelopes are of course abundant, but generally when meat is wanted fat steer is butchered.
 One might think there would be but few visitors to 8 place so remote, and yet people call almost every day, fol they have several neighbors. One lives seven, one eight, and one fourteen miles distant, most being men without fami
 lies and living in rude huts engaged ir the care of small herds which they hope will grow. Then men come from differ
 ent parts of the territory to see the fine cattle and sheep, and often to purchase
 MT. Maynard has demonstrated that { cross of pure Durham on the Texas stock makes the best grade for the coun
 try, for the quality of taking on flesh is united with hardness, and the progeny betrays scarcely a trace of the Texan
 The American merino, brought from the best stocks of Vermont and Illinois, de
 cidedly improves on the grass of the plains, and the dark greasy wool disap pears while the fneness remains. After a flock has been brought to higl standard, scab and foot-rot are un
 known. s
 The average yield of MT. Maynard'l sheep is about eight pounds per head probably higher than in any other par of the country. Mexican sheep yiele only about three pounds per head, ant the wool is worth only about half a. much as that of the Merinos. Sales O wool, sheep, and cattle are usuall,
 made on the farm, in which case ther,
 are no such things as commission 2 freights, shrinkage, and stealage. Near 7 ly ], 1000 sheep were sold on this plac' last year at about $3.5O head, whicl s with the wool, made total of about $' 2 each. On the whole, sheep are consid k cred more profitable than any othe . stock, although it is stated by astocl
 men that the increase of cattle is a
 much as 90 per cent. per annum; ant
 MT. Maynard says he can raise fin 2 three-year-old steer fit for the butche
 at three-fourths of cent pound, liv weight. I saw as fine Durham stock, il full flesh, as plump and in as goot $ heart as eyer started from the blu . grass fields of Kentucky for New-York hot hna oS, Rha o11 ,4o Q and have not had an ounce of hay; ant | they were as gentle as lambs.
 I might have asked MT. Maynard hoy much money he makes, but I did not Still he did say that there is room ol Q thousands of cattle, though rather fur Q ther away: But o, young man, do no
 for moment think that the care of cat Q that money is to be made hand over ifs D by turning flock of sheep out on tn f plains to increase and grow fat. Liste, n to MT. Maynard's story. and it is as tru h of others, as the words of Burns, tha # man was made to mourn. When MI " Maynard, had found this happy valley I he went to Iowa and bought ?, 900 sheeI o Not being much of a sheep man, h a supposed, that one sheep was as good a Q another. Starting early enough in tn v summer, he expected to drive throug :. by October; but there were great de if lays in crossing the unabridged stream a of Nebraska, and it was late in the fa n before he arrived. Of course the shee a had become weak and poor To pu d the in good heart he sent for corn-mes "a by the carload, and he fed out 70, ,OO . pounds, which he now thinks was of n e use whatever. In December the shee l. began to die; he nursed and fed an
 dsctored, but all was in vain, and be
 fore spring he piled up 1 1000 dead sheer s So discouraged did he become tha t l ha saved nnlv a mart of tha nalts Sti