Rocky Ford enterprise., 1893-12-28
THE ORDWAY FARMERS CLUB.

THE ORDwAY FARMERs' CLUB.
Discussion Of Horticulture in the
Arkansas Valley.
Last Thursday afternoon. Hon. J. Il.
Crowley and the editor Of the ENTER
PRISE started TO Ordway to attend one OF
the regular semi-monthly meetings OF
the Farmers' Club. Although Christmas
was almost at hand the question was
raised as to the necessity Of wearing over
coats. The day was quite mild, and
characterised by that bright sunshine
which is the rule summer and winter in
this favored cline. We took the abort
route via. the old rocky ford, with itsssfive
gates to open-soon to be wiped out Of
existence. Near the river crossing We
tlement which existed there from 1871 to
1875. Here Messrs. Swink 4 Russell had
the largest general merchandise store in
all this region, drawing trade from wide
scope Of country bounded by Pueblo,
Trinidad, Las Animas, and the X. p.
road. SellingIat lower prices than had
previously prevailed Swink & Russell did
q rushing business and 'the rocky ford"
was the noted trading point for all Of
Colorado east Of Pueblo. And additional
life was gived the ford by it's being the
from Texas and the south crossed the
Arkansas river. But the glory Of the
place has passed away, only one adote
building being left of the busting village
On reaching the top Of the slope just
beyond the river we had full view Of
the splendid domain Of rich irrigable land
to the north almost az far as the eye could
reach, and looking backward the magnif-
cent Arksnsas valley was seen for many
miles. In the summer season when the
alfalfa felds are in their brightest green,
and when the many forest trees are in
full leaf, there is NO more attractive agri-
cultural scene than the country through
which the Arkansas winds its way, dis
tributinQ by various canals it's Nile like
fertility to one Of the most desirable aRri-
cultural and horticultural regions in the
west. We arrived ct Ordway Just as the
full moon began to rise and met with q
welcome at the smith house-Mr. Smith
assured US that We should not this trip
have occasion to quote Isaiah 28-2O, but
might refer to Wasts' hymn which refers
to "fowery beds Of ease"
were absent in Denver and the east, and
other causes prevented as full an attend
ance a. usual l.. e. Fara was chosen
president pro tenn, and an attempt was
made to adopt q constitution and by
laws, but the form suggested by the COM
mittee was deemed to cumbersome and
was laid ON the table.
Hon. J. II. Crowley was introduced 10
the audience and prooeeded to show that
fruit culture paid in the Arkansas valley.
He quoted reliable statistics showing the
profits which had been made in the older
portions Of the valley. His own expert
years ago he set out his first apple trees
and last year gathered from one tree 146
pounds Of fruit which he sold at cents
per pound, making 37.80. From 200
grape vines he had marketed fruit as fol-
lows for three years: 4125, e128 and
$500 respectively. The Concord grape is
q sweet grape here, and there are only
two other localities in the nation, and
those Of limited extent, where the Con-
cord grows "a the richness that it does in
the Arkansas valley. Il does not pay to
farmers 70 raise all kinds Of ANAL fruit II
they don't seQ = dollars worth, as they
arc thereby saved the expense Of buying
canned go6dG Older trees can bs plant
cd hero than in the east. A year old tres
y . failure hefe as the warm sun heats it
through, thickeos the sap and causes the
bark TO ct too tightly. Have bad good
luck with two and three-year-old trees,
and have planted some four and five
years old. Gan not recommend trees old
Or than two and three years.
;. Mr., Crowley suggested an addition to
the studies. in our public schools which
could be adopted with great profit to the
youth Of farming communities. II IL this:
Have each school house surrounded by
as large an orchard plat a. required by
the size OF the school Give each child a
tree of its own 10 caro- for, and have in
struction in the school room such as
would scquaint the pupils with the char
acter Of, habits and needs Of the trees and
tho nature Of the insect pests which at
tack them. This would give the children
much valuable botanical knowledge, and
by interesting them in the relations Of
would be q tendency to instill them with
pride in the occupation Of their fathers,
and larger proportion would remain on
the farm and give it greater dignity a.
we'll as increased profit.
This IL not q peach country, only one
variety, the Persian, seeming 10 do well,
others bloom too early. There 10 more
money In Blackcap raspberries than any
other small fruit. Blackberries are not
q success. All grapes do we'll, and none
need winter protection except California
tive varieties, do splendidly. Irrigation
Supt. Matthews was called ON for his ex-
perience in plum growing, and said that
from one-twelfth Of an acre he had one
year gathered 1760 and another year 21OO
pounds. They were the wild Goose vari-
ETY.. They sold for 8 cents per pound.
Gooseberries yield immensely. MI.
Crowley cultivates mostly with q double
shovel Ave times year, allowing no grass
or weeds to grow, as they greatly aid in
halboring mice. He does mot grow corn
in his orchard, and never small grain, as
IL takes the substance Of the soil needed
for the trees, which are certainly Of suffa-
cient importance to have the benefit Of
the entire ground. But melons can be
grown without detriment. Put NO crop
n the orchard after the third year.
Mulching 70 delay blooming is not sue
cess. The larger the number Of farmers
engaged in the apple culture the better
chance for ready sale and good prices, as