The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-01-16
FARMING IN COLORADO.
NATURAL ADVANTAGES OF THE FAR
WEST IN GROWING CROPS.
Immense Yield of Wheat Last Year-Pro-
life Growth OF Potatoes and Kindred
vegetabies-The Corn Crop Abundant
Grand Country.
DENVER. Col. Dec. 25.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE

DENVER. COL, Dec. 70. 1908.
Three days ago 1 got back 10 my cosy
kotel here from I'm extended trip over the
State of Colorado. The genial editor Of the
Field and Farm short time ago extended
to me an invitation 10 accompany him in n
jaunt through the State. II was his usual
yearly trip at the close OF the harvest season
10 gather up items regarding agriculture
and its kindred belongings. The gentleman.
Captain Cutler. is one Of the best posted
men In the Rocky Mountain region, and. in
addition, a splendid travelling companion.
Possessing the personal acquaintance Of
nearly every ranchman in the State, with
phenomenal tact in getting information.
/ had my doubts last spring as 10 the
ability OF Colorado farmers to raise sue
cessiul crops. This is dry climate.
the rainfall being very small, and 10
one accustomed TO regard abundant rains
as essential to crops. it did seem ~ me that
the land was hopelessly barren. / want 30
correct that impression. now that L have
had visible proof, and TO say that / am
thoroughly convinced that the most invit-
ing and profitable farming sections OF the
United States lie within the boundary lines
OF Colorado. 1t seems strange 10 talk OF
! Colorado and adjacent States as especially
adapted 70 farming, yet such is the actual
fact. The Colorado farmer does not care,
so FAR as his crops are concerned. whether
or not the entire year passes without n
/ shower. An ever-compensating nature pro-
/ vides an abundance of water in the melt
ing SHOWS Of the mountains, that flows
/ down during the warm. dry summer
months. needing only the simple skill
! OF the farmer to store the water and dis
4 tribute IL over his fields at the time when 10
/ is most needed. l learn that at the present
! time there are over 5000 miles OF main line
irrigating bitches completed. and moro
/ than GOO miles in process Of con-
/ struction, 10 be finished by next spring.
/ The soils of the plains, apparently so ster-
\ lie, are the worn down debris Of rocks
/ Astounding in potash and alkahcs, the
\ richest chemical materials for the growth
OF nearly all crops. They only need the
water TO make them more productive than
/ the best soils in the Eastern States, which
/ have long required the application Of those
/ mineral fertilizers so profusely abundant
here. In one place. near San Isabel, where
| last spring the plain looked to mo like
/ WORKOUT door-mat. uninviting and sterile.
/ saw this month an immense potato field
! from which the yield Of the meals tubers
amounted TO TWO HUNDRED BUSHELS PER
ACRE. and in some instances exceeding this.
/ The water brought by small irrigating
ditch from one OF the numerous branches
Of the San Luis River was the magic elixir
/ that had, brought about such marvellous re-
suits. In other places over the State
found il 10 be- no uncommon thing,
/ in fact, the usual thing, for the
potato crop 20 range from $50
/ to 200 bushels per acre. Wheat
/ mas done remarkably Wen. MY friend, cap
/ tain Cutler, had been busy gathering sta
tstics. | give you some of his figures.
The Captain is inclined TO be conservative,
and told him SO. His reply was. with q
shrewd twinkle OF the eye: We'll, I've
/ lived here many years, and have some prop
crtv. i expect TO live some years to come.
II | only tell half of what the land will do.
and let the buyer find out the value of his
ranch. why. then. | am making every fellow
a good advertiser of what l have left. His
/, Ill. Is.lf.
the wheat crop OF 1883 20 be not less than
three million bushels, averaging from
twenty-five to thirty bushels per acre. The
crop of winter wheat was an experiment,
heretofore the spring variety being sown.
The crop OF winter wheat has. however,
exceeded the yield OF the spring grain by
about six bushels 10 the acre.
IL used 10 be thought that corn would
never succeed as a crop in Colorado. East
ern corn growers said: Your altitude is
too great. and your nights are too cold.
! Let me say. that during the trip from which
/ have just returned | have seen thousands
OF acres of splendid corn. from every acre
/ of which twenty-five bushels have been gath
cred. / do not mean TO say that have not
seen poor crops. i have; but they were
the result, not OF any uniitness Of the
soil but Of the improvident, shiitless stu
pidity of the fellow who calls himself II
farmer. The man who floods his fields
/ with water in early spring time, before tho
elects the needs OF his OPP during the bal
ancc OF the season, preierring 20 loaf around
whisky mill in town; such a chap couldn't
raise half a bushel OF sweet potatoes 10 the
acre ON the choicest spot in the Garden OF
Eden. The alfalfa hay is one OF the great
staple crops of Colorado. 1t is IA planted
crop. and, though not requiring what might
be called cultivation, does require some at
tenton in irrigation. n yields, with fair
treatment. an absolutely reliable crop Of
five tons per acre. worth in the stack from
| S. 10 SO per ton. Three cuttings are made
yearly. and in many instances four. There
is no better hay for all kinds OF stock Pigs
eat il greedily and fatten rapidly upon it.
The oat crop has been an abundant one.
averaging over 40 bushels per acre, and
weighing as high as 80 pounds per bushel
The dry climate the strong mineral soil,
and the timely application of the water to the
growing crop. combine to make all grain
heavier and OF better quality On the farm OF
Mr.. Charles Fassctt. near Monte Vista in
| the great San Luis Park, / saw an oat field
that had yielded ninety bushels 10 the acre.
The crop of barley has been good The
| quality OF the grain is pronounced TO be
! superior TO the best German barley. and is
eagerly sought for by Eastern brewers.
Vegetables have kept pace with the grains
in making "a record for prolific growth.
! Onions, beets, parsnips turnips, are simply
enormous. The cabbage crop alone will
this year net round million Of dollars. "A
| large proportion OF the crop finding its way
over the new railroad line from Denver to
the Gulf. TO Old Mexico.
expect you will say that It requires a
good many acres 10 Ire farmed 10 produce
| such quantities. Well. the returns from the
various county officers, made in obedience
TO law. TO be presented 10 the State Legisla-
ture which meets the second day of Janu-
ary show that there are now in Colorado
twenty thousand farms. averaging 160 acres
each an increase of over fifty per cent.
since the report Of 1867. The farmer in
! Colorado has one advantage not possessed
by his Agricultural brother OF the East. The
roads in Colorado are without any
question the finest natural roads in the
| worh.
Now. Iexpect that you will ask what is
land worth in Colorado. and what does IL
cost 10 farm it? Well. land can be bought
in some OF the best agricultural districts at
/ ten dollars per acre, including n perpetual
right 10 the use Of abundant water for irri-
cation. Under ordinary circumstances the
cost OF raising an acre OF wheat is about as
follows; Flowing, $3.50; seed. Sl.40 TO ST. 50
per 100 pounds; sowing or drilling. IS cents:
irrgating spreading water over the ground
! by means of ditch furrowsl. $3.50; harvest
ing. 81; threshn1. 81: total. Sl0.25 The crop.
at lowest average, being twenty-five BUSH
els per acre OF sixty pounds TO the bushel.
selling ut 81 20 per hundred. will bring
| SlS.75 almost paying the cost OF both land