Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-09-13

garden. The balance of the 1000. acres
cultivated is devoted to alfalfa and hay
1t is somewhat of question with east
ern farmers if such ranch will pay. AL
falfa this year will run at this place about
four tons to the acre. The lowest price
paid in winter is $40 per ton delivered
baled on the cars. To put this product
thus far costs the raiser from 81 to $45O
possibly $5 per ton. The big Clyde and
Phoenix ranches have more than 500 acres
each in alfalfa. net profit of 500 an
acre is not to be despis. d, especially
when it is considered that this cultivation
is very sure. In the east land that will
yield $50 sure net profit on any staple
would be
HELD AT 800 TO $3.50 AN ACRE
purchase price. In New Mexico similar
and equally good land may be purchased
for from $40 to $35 per acre.
Next year Gov. Hadley contem plates
an important experiment. He will break
up small piece of alfalfa land aud plant
it carefully to potatoes, keeping reckon
ing of all the data concerning the expert
ment. At Greeley, Colo, potatoes yield
about 500 per acre. There ia no reason
why the Mora county lands should not
pay equally well and raise as good if not
a superior potato to Greeley.
The homestead at this ranch Is a roomy
two story adobe, surrounded by splendid
lawn of blue grass and shaded by beau
tiful grove of cottonwoods. There are
over thirty men employed about the place
during the busy season.
THE PIONEER VIM. KRoEN1G.
on the Sapello, also has a beautiful place.
Besides the flow of the stream, he saves
the storm waters in an extensive system
OF six interocking lakes. From these
he waters crops practically similar to
those of the Clyde and Phoenix ranches.
Carl Wilderstein has the model farm of
this valley. lie has now $50 acres laid
down to alfalfa and oats. Next year he
proposes planting large orchard.
Among the native citizens, Don Bernardo
Salazar's ranch is notable. 1t is we'll cu-
tivated and he has tiue herd of mich
and beef cattle.
From Watrous up the valley the trip is
delightful. The Coyote, Cebolla, La
Cueva and Golondrnas valleys are passed.
The high rolling mesas are covered foot
deep with black gramma grass, and it
waves in the wind like wheat field.
AT La CUEyA
Is the first large cultivation. This is
owned by the La Cueva Ranch company
and managed by Mr.. d. G. Deuel. 1t
was originally the Romero estate and the
Romero homestead is now the headq uar-
ters OF this company. 1t owns $4,000
acres of this beautiful valley, and has be-
tween 5000 and 1000 now in actual cul- !
tivation. On this ranch, supplied from
the Mora, is reservoir covering $40
acres, from which six feet of water is
available for irrigation, or 3,S4O acre feet. |
The level of the lake is still fifteen feet
below the feedway of the canal, and by an
inexpensive enbankment the reservoir
car be made to hold twelve feet more
water. Putting the proposition that !
eighteen feet of water may be drawn of |
of surface of about 500 acres, there will |
be available 14,4CO acre feet of water, or
enough to irrigate that acreage of land. |
This La Cueva ranch is also stock farm.
1t is easily watered, as besides the above
there are three other smaller |
lakes. Mr.. Deuel. has had very close sur
veys made of this estate and has the plans
laid to put practically the whole under
water. In passing il may be noted that
this company, when its improvement of
the present reservoir is complete, will |
own /
THE LARGEST LAKE