Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-08-05

orally enter into the com position of plants
are chlorln, iron, Line, magnesia, potash
and some compound Of nitrogen. The
last is probably the most important ele-
ment. This, however, is in largest degree
absorbed from the air At least such is
the dictum of Herve Magnus and Char
pentier di Cosigni, the foremost French
agricultural chemists. 1t will be seen
that the Pecos water furnishes IN large
degree all the essential salts, but that the
analysis shows an absolute absence of
alkali.
Prof. Louis Hilgard, Of Berkely Univer-
sity, also endorses the Pecos soil and
water as exceptionally adaptable to irri-
cation and raising crops thereby.
| The above are few Of the many opin-
ions that could be cited on this sub iect.
They are of the highest authori-
| ty, and their weight should oyerburden
| the malicious ISLANDERS that are current in
some quarters. Surely these gentlemen
| know their business and what is neces-
sary to plant life.
There is only one thing further to be
said. 1t Is well known fact that gyp-
sum, or as it is sometimes called 'land
| plaster" is universal antidote for alkali.
How then could it exist on land one of
whose principal elements is the fertiliz-
ing gypsum?
| DELIGHTFUL CLIMATE.
The climate Of the, Pecos valley is un-
surpassed in winter, and in summer the
pure, dry, ozone burdened air tempers
the heat.
The general altitude ranges from 5000
to 1000 feet. At Eddy, in the center of
the valley, it is $3.50 feet. This height
combined with the bracing air from the
surrounding mountain ranges makes the
valley peculiarly good sanitarium. The
thermometer rarely falls below Is above
zero in winter and although it raises to
100 degrees in summer 1t is not damp
heat and therefore perfectly tolerable and
not oppressive.
Last year the coldest weather in the
Pecos valley was % degrees above zero.
During the winter before last on January
10, 1892, the lowest degree of cold regis
tered was above zero. At that date a
terrible blizzard ragged over the country
and the cold throughout northern New
Mexico was from 10 to 20 degrees below
zero and in Colorado it was from 40 to 50
degrees below. Last year hardy native
vegetables we're on the Eddy market dur
ing each month of the year. With this
genial climate and rich soil it is not after
all so wonderful that Eddy and Chayes
counties have shown such marked develop
ment. Under these genial influences trees
and fruits attain beauty and fragrance
unrivaled and almost unknown elsewhere,
and their favor is such as can only be i'm
parted on good gypsum soil under
warm, brilliant sunshine.
The saccharine elements ore best
brought out under these influences. 1t Is
for this reason that the sugar beets raised
IN this valley show an average of 75.9 per
cent of purity; and this under the rigid
official analysis of Prof. Wiley, chemist of
the U. s. agricultural department. See
bulletin No. SO, U. 8. department of agri-
culture, 1892, p. 19. All fruits do pro-
portionately well. Six year old apple
trees at Roswell yield 1000 tos 1900
pounds of fruit each year; pears three to
four bushels; plums four to six bushels;
peaches 400 to 600 pounds. On the Ha
german farm near Eddy three almond
trees bore and matnrea over 100 pounds
of nuts per tree. Add to this ths fact
that the Pecos water is equal to the
famous springs of kissingen and EPSON;
that all stomachic troubles are corrected
and relieved by this water, and there is no
other climate in the United States Offering
equal advantages.
There are, however, two crops in which
the Pecos valley offers exceptional ad-
vantages to the farmer. They are sugar
beets and cana-agria. Their culture is
simple; and, although somewhat new to
the general American farmer, present
opportunities of profit that quickly COM
mand attention when brought to notice.
CANA-AGRIA.
Cana-agria is species of sour dock
that grows wild even on the dryest mesas
or table lands. On the high tongue of
land at the junction of the Pecos and
Black rivers, the writer has seen tons of
it dessicating in the dry air. No water
except the scanty rainfall could reach it.
1t contains so large percentage of tan
MO acid that three tons dried will yield
one ton of extract. This is much higher
average than the best oak bark is sus-
ceptible of yielding. Mr.. O. B. Eddy
now holds contract with eastern
'osNAAoAo w ooho dll Vno CuAa-dBIlb
roots the farmers of the Pecos
valley can raise at net price of $40 per
ton green, or $50 per ton dried. There
are about 500 acres of this root now in
cultivation around Eddy. In wild state
without irrigation this plant produces ten
to twelve tons of roots per acre. With
cultivation and water properly applied it
will furnish forty tons to the acre of green
root. At the rate offered above, and
which runs five years, a man could make
$400 an acre on this plant alone. The
culture is simple. The ground is cleared
and plowed. Into the open burrows small
roots are dropped and then covered.
Water is applied sparingly and the plant
natures in from four to six months.
There is probably no better avenue to
profit for new farmer than raising cana
agria. With ten acres of an 80-acre tract
devoted to its culture he could pay all ex-
penses of the remainder and have good
income besides. There is, however, no
reason why he should not devote him
self entirely to cana-agria planting.
One large European firm OF tanners
have planted 800 acres of this new found
help to them, near Eddy.
SUGAR BETS.
Sugar beets were first introduced to no.
tice in this country by Prof. Wiley, before
mentioned. G. o. Shields, at Eddy, ono
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