Rocky Ford enterprise., 1893-10-12
FOWLER'S FARMERS.
What They Have Done. are
Doing and Can do.

I y
ished. This philosophical remark
is most accurate description OF
that portion of the west which is
within neither the rain belt nor IT.
rigable territory. By way of con-
trast wa wish to say something
about country that nature HAS
finished.
Friday last we boarded the"Nel-
lie BLY," and the Santa Fe took us
swiftly and smoothly to Fowler,
18 miles west Here we met Leon
Fenlason, who volunteered to show
US what was to be seen in a few
hours drive. Mr.. Fenlason is very
busy, having the superintendency
of more farming operations than
any man of his age in southern
Colorado. Yet he kindly gave US
his time and behind fast horse
we started out for an afternoon of
agricultural sight seeing.
By way of introduction we re-
mark that the town was named
after Prof. Fowler, the world
known phrenologist. Prof. Fowl
er visited this country about seven
years ago and was greatly pleased
with its beauty and the evident
fertility of the soil. By homestead,
tree claim, etc, he acquired four
quarter-sections, and also leased
some 1000 acres of state land. He
had many broad-guage plans for
the developement of the country,
including the colonization of hun
dreds of immigrants and the erec-
tion of works for the manufacture
of food products from the differ
ent cereals. While the professor
was a money-maker in his line,
and harvested thousands of dollars
from curious and creduIous pub
lie, he was not a success in man.
aging an extensive farming scheme.
Not long ago all of Prof. Fowler's
broad acres passed into other hands.
Had he lived a portion of his gen.
erous plans would surely have
been carried out. However, the
promise is, that the agricultural
prosperity of which he dreamed
will yet be realized through the
labors of hundreds of independent
farmers.
The first ranch visited was that
Of II. NJ. Fosdick, Jr. Mr.. F. is
one OF the pioneers, coming to this
country IN 1860, while the Indians
yet asserted claims to the great
plains. At one time Mr.. F. and
family had to seek safety for three
months under the care of the q. 8.
troops. Mr.. Fosdick's home is on
a rich bottom ranch.
At the Otero Fruit & Land Cos
4SO acre ranch we met the super
intendent, Geo. Lunnon, who show
ed us around. On this place are
100 acres of apple trees, portion
of which will bear next year, and
10 acres of pears. The orchard is
a handsome one and wins the ad-
miration of all Santa Fe passen-
gers. The hog pens contained
many fine specimens of swine, q
cross between the Poland China
and Berkshire. They were in sx-
cellent flesh and have had nothing
but alfalfa. A portion of them
ran on a field and others were
kept up and the alfalfa cut and
fed to them. Both young stock
and full grown hogs were in good
condition. The Clydesdale horses
aid colts we're beauties. In the
granaries were seen 800 bushels of
good wheat, 500 of oats and one
and one-half car loads of Mexican
beans. (This bean liz very nutri-
tious and of good flavor, but not
popular in the general lnarket.)
Alfalfa hay to the extent of 100
tons has been cut this season. Mr..
Lunnon is an energetic worker and
of good executive ability and makes
things move the right way.
At L. Hartig's was seen i'm
mense ricks of alfalfa and work
yet in progress on the third crop.
y. "A. AockuarC place also SNOW
ed great alfalfa production. Mr..
LIS farm house is above the aver
age in size and appearance.
E. +. Blake we found hard at
work cutting sorgo for fodder. He
has ten acres of milo maize which
he tops and feeds the seed the
same as corn. HI finds it better
feed in every way for hogs than
corn, and is good for all kinds of
stock. The fodder he feeds by
cutting up fine, about two inches
long, and horses and cattle eat it
ur clean. Ii is valuable crop to
raise. Mr.. B. last spring set out
$500 trees, mostly apples, but
with sprinkling of pears, cher
ries, plums, etc, also $500 Crane
vines. His ambition is to have
12O acres of orchard. His ten
acre melon patch was green with
the finest of specimens of this
summer staple, Notwithstanding
he had sold about 100 wagon loads.