Rocky Ford enterprise., 1893-12-14
oRDwAY FARMERS CLUB.
Gram Raising and Dairying Discussed.

Uraln ltaisinS anu DalFyln& DlScusSeOs
Last Thursday afternoon W. G. Steele
and tho editor OF the ENrERPRIsE drove
over I'd Ordway to attend the regular
Farmers club meeting. We took the
short route via the old historical rocky
ford, ono of the few fording places in the
Arkansas where quick sand does not
make the crossing dangerous. A dist
ance of about two miles is saved over the
route by the bridge, the only drawback
being the opening Of five gates. These
gates do not open with the pressure Of
the carriage wheel on carefully ar
ranged lever apparatus, but being con-
tinuations of the wire fences, with cot
tonwood limbs for latches, they are
opened with various degrees Of inconven-
fence. Furthermore, more can be said of
their cheapness than their beauty. But,
thanks to the enterprising character OF
our people, these gates will soon be things
of the past and a good and direct road
constructed by this short route. And
this is as it should be. A town situated
us Rocky Ford is will greatly retard its
growth and prosperity if it fails to pro-
N1uc SONA IodO"uyb oy WAACA t14o Ao4A4-
ers and residents Of neighboring towns
can reach us. All facilities which make
our town easy OF access for trading par
poses are worth many dollars to us. There
is no worse economy than in saving mon
ey by failure to construct ample highway
approaches to a thriving, ambitious, nat
nral business center like Rocky Ford.
Supper was enjoyed at the hospitable
home OF DC. Roberts. From thence we
returned to the farmers club room, whore
a large number Of interested farmers
were assembled. The meeting was call
ed to order by G. N. Ordway, president,
and after some routine business the sub
ject of the evening, "The Minimum Price
Profitable Under Irrigation" was opened
by John Auckland of Olney.
Mr.. Auckland said that he understood
this to mean the smallest price which
farmer can accept as soon ns he can get
his grain to market. Holding and stor-
age not to be considered. He would take
wheat for his estimate, and the cost of
other grain would not be materially diff
erent, and he would count the expense
from plowing the ground until shipped.
The average price paid for plowing to
in that work was $1.75 per
acre for stubble ground, but. he thought
that the farmer could do the work for
himself at $1.50 per acre. Narrowing
twice, once before and once after drilling,
was worth 300 per acre. Drilling was
proximate the cost of irrigation. One
man can irrigate 100 acres of average
land. Two months should be given to
This i'll the summer and one in the fall,
making three months at $40 per month
and board Add to this the cost of max
ing and repairing laterals, say $50, max
ing the total cost Of irrigating $1.00 or
81.50 per acre. The cutting and stacking
will cost 81.5O per acre. Threshing will
cost &c per bushel. We will estimate the
average yield at 10 bushels per acre. Six
times Is are 80, to which add for coal for
threehers, making the cost 81 per acre.
Hauling costs loo per cwt, but say 81
per acre. He would estimate the value
per acre for interest on the investment,
or for interest the farmer is paying il his
farm is not paid for. These expenses ag-
gregate 1910 per acre. Oats will yield
more bushels per acre than wheat, but
not more pounds. What was the aver
age yield Of wheat per acre? It has been
too small to boast Of, but we may indulge
the reasonable hope that with the bitches
in better condition the yield Of the future
will be larger than in the past. Fifteen
bushels is a good average yield. It has
been shown that it costs $40 to produce
800 pounds of wheat, or over 81 per cwt.
Hence, if farmers accept less than that
price they are going into hole.
In answer to question as to the omis-
sion OF the cost Of seed in his estimate,
Mr.. Auckland said that he had the seed
on hand and did not count it in, but said
it was proper addition to the expense.