Rocky Ford enterprise., 1893-11-09

In four hours digging he had har-
vested as many potatoes as would
equal Al acres of wheat in value.
When we have proved what we can
do the Greeley farmers will stam-
pede to the Arkansas valley.
Mr.. Mott, from the San Luis
valley. said that the conditions OF
irrigation there were so different
from here that he could not en-
tighten the club. He favored
planting seed from the size OF a
walnut to hens egg, cut in two.
Senator Swink said that he had
in the past stated that the only
thing that would not grow in the
valley was potatoes, but that later
experiments had proved that he
was wrong in this exception. When
Gov. Eaton was looking over the
Rocky Ford country with him the
governor said we had as good soil
for potatoes as Greeley. Mr.Swink
thought the farmers should thor
oughly experiment, as he believed
potatoes would prove a paying
crop.
g. W. Fenlason, superintendent
of schools, said he had had good
success in potato growing east but
had not tried it here.
A general discussion followed,
during which some member re-
marked that when talking potato
growing to farmers in Greeley the
planting of small potatoes was ad-
vised, but it was soon developed
the party giving the advice had
lots of small tubers for sale.
AT the next meeting of the club
Thursday evening, Nov. 2, the sub
ject was Feeding Stock for Profit
Cattle, Sheep or Hogs"
We were guests of Mr.. and Mrs.
Ordway for the night and the fol-
lowing morning had chance to
view Mr.. O's fine $40 acre ranch.
Tee residence occupies an elevated
site with downward slope north,
east and west. The brick barn is
40xS0 feet and when completed
will hold 200 tons of hay. Water
is supplied from the towns Holly
system for both domestic and stock
purposes. A lake for fish and ice
is contemplated. Young apple
and pear orchards are thriving and
large vineyard will soon be plant
ed. Mr.. Ordway has a large and
fine herd of Holstien cattle, part
of which are the finest imported
stock, for dairy purposes, and has
recently made good sales to others
who are going to raise this popu-
lar breed of cattle.
On driving to town we found it
occupying one of the handsomest
sites possible, elevated somewhat
above the slightly landscape and
commanding a magnificent view
of what is destined to be the homes
of thousands of prosperous agri-
culturists. Ordway is situated on
the Missouri Pacific and has the
most promising future of any place
on that road between Pueblo and
the Kansas line.
We first inspected the large po-
tato pit which is being built by
the Colorado Land & Water Co.
for the storage of their crop. From
thence we went to the elevator,
recently completed, and examined
the working of the new 15-horse-
power gasoline engine, which is a
model of simplicity and conven-
ience, and of economy in time and
labor. Climbing to the top of the
elevator, which is first-class, with
125, 900 bushels capacity, we had
grand view of a perfect sea of
beautiful land. Almost as far as
the eye could reach in every di-
rection was seen land with an al
most level and unbroken surface.
The slopes are about from 35 to SO
feet per mile, making its adapta-
tion to irrigation as perfect as pos
sible. And of this land, of the
utmost fertility and growing an
immense variety of crops, there is
an astonishing acreage-enougL
to make several European king
doms.
A start was then made to have a
closer inspection of this lovely
landscape. The ENTERPRISE man
and T. A. Dodge, president of the
Colorado Land & Water Co., led
the way behind Mr.. DIS fast grays,
followed by Senator Swink and
Mr.. Ordway. The trip was most
pleasantly interrupted by a sump-
tuous dinner at the home of Dewitt
@. Roberts, one mile north Of town.
Mr.. Roberts ranks next to Mr..
Ordway in pioneer honors, and in
his less than three years residence
there has made splendid farm.
He this year raised ITO acres alfal-
fa, 13O of wheat, and large lot of
hay for his fine herd of Jersies,
which constitute half of his pres
ent dairy stock. He will incrense
his milk COWS from Is to 40 as
soon as the creamery starts. He
is now making a superior article
of butter which commands a gilt
edged price. Mr.. r. has found
sweet potatoes a good crop. He
10 met ,ouy harvao4inO a fa1E vpbi iob