The state herald., 1891-07-31
IRRIGATED FARMS
Colorado Crop Prospects.

Colorado Crop Prospects.
The weekly weather crop bulletin
Of the Colorado state weather service, CO.
operating with the United States weather
bureau Of the department of agriculture,
for the week ending July "a, 1871, Is rs
follows:
Warm, sunshiny weather prevailed dur
Ing the week. Rain is needed, though
reports Indicate that Friday
nights rain was quite general over the
State. Water for irrigation is scarce.
However, crop reports continue very
favorable.
In Northern Colorado tho whole yield
will bo about 20 per cent. better than ever
before. Barley harvest well under way
and promises good yield. Corn develop
Ing rapidly. Rain badly needed in the
upper Arkansas Valley.
In Southeastern Colorado, wheat, oats,
barley and corn look well. Second cutting
OF alfalfa well under way Prowors coun.
ty Is harvesting the oat crop Water
melons looking fine in Otoro,
In Northeastern Colorado considerable
grain is already cut. In Logan county
oats are badly smutted, in some localities
about 20 per cont. hail did some damage
beginning Of week TO wheat and oats.
Eastern Colorado crops look well; corn
that escaped the bad hail is in line condi
ton; tho beetle bug is doing considerable
damage to some potato fields; farmers
making hay; sorghum promises large
yield OF feed.
In Hucrfano county crops on upland art
suffering from drought
Ell Paso and Douglas counties report
good outlook; only one good ram would
insure good crops; small fruit looks well.
Peaches and apricots are being shipped
out of Grand valley in large quantities.
Fruit reports from Delta county are very
indeed. Cropo looking very well
in agricultural sections OF Northwestern
part Of tho State.
In the San Luis Valley the crop condi.
tions continue very favorable.
w. S. MILLER,
U. S. Weather Bureau Director.
The report of the Colorado State Engi
neer is out and contains some matter OF
great Importance. Mr.. Maxwell reports
1888 filings for reservoirs in his office, OF
which 2ai were made within the last
tive years. He says: "From the esu
mated capacities of these and from the re
ports OF eligible sites, there can be but lit
tie question but the surplus waters of our
streams will be fully conserved ut no dis
tant day, and further that the opportuni
ties for storage are abundant throughout
the State. The storage of tho storm
waters Of the plains is matter that has
received marked attention during the past
sioners and from information obtained
through other sources, IL is estimated tba,
during the season of 1880 there were irri
gated from stored waters in South Platte
division about 10000 acres, 1000 Of this
amount being reported from tn,
SaSuc III iouurc uislfitt uNu l-,oV
acres from the big Thompson.
With permanent aud reliable gaugine
and proper facilities for trans.
mitting the records on occasion of rapid
rises in the streams, many bitches, closed
by reason Of scarcity, could be temporarily
supplied with water and relief afforded te
suffering crops, where now the opportunity
Is lost on account OF delay ed information
The State engineer estimates the number
Of wells In the San Luis Valley NJ about
!, 900, the largest measured by him giving
a ilow OF ta5 gallons per minute, being the
town well At Alamosa. The Mcntc Vista
wells, some cighty-ive to 100 In number,
gave a pressure OF between fve aud al,
feet The Espinosa well, some twenty
miles north Of the latter place, throws
inches above the casing and flows between
800 and 400 gallons per minute. La Jsrs
has nineteen wells, all shallow, being
thirty three feet In depth.
Here is an object lesson for young Colo
rado farmers. A young man living few
miles south Of town bought well-im
proved 100 acre farm last spring, on which
he paid 81 900 down and contracted to pay
n 600 more within specified time. He Ia
= thorough going farmer, steady, indus
trious and good, prudent manager. lie
is not bit afraid Of work and knows how
To make every blow on n farm count foi
all 1t is worth. Settling right down u
business, he laid his plans for the season
and has thus far worked right 10 the line,
and II nothing unforeseen happens to hin
and his crops he will this fall reduce that
d. 900 debt To about q, 900, besides paying
the interest, and will still ha ve enough
left TO keep him In comfor,ab 10 circum
stances another year. His hel DIS OF wnv
Ing grain and alfalfa arc wonder 70 bs.
hold, so full are they OF promise and On
The name OF this young
farmer Is Walter Laidlaw, and he Is rec
ognircd as n model farmer and one OF the
best Of cltikcns.-Iort Collins Courier.
They grow some big fields OF alfalfa down
on the Arkansas In Otero county. Andor
son Il Sutherland began the harvesting O!
10 acres Of their s00-acrc farm last week.
These hay growers cut but two crops
season aud employ from eighteen TO twcn'
" mon and eight teams to handle tho i'm
mensc crop The hrs, cutting, which wa'
being finished last week, was late. II
amounted TO over poo tons. Tho next cut
ting II Ia estimated will crop 1900 tons,
Tho crop Is handled by improved maehln
ery at the rato Of one and half tons In
aiI minutes from the wagon to the stack
and the total cost OF putting up this hay
from tho mower will run from ID cents u
o. ton. Tho alfalfa Tonnage from this
well.managod hay farm will amount 70
!, 400 tons, aud 30 tons OF native hay. -
Field and Farm,
Tho people Of Carbon County have