Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-10-11
The Sunny San Luis.

superior quality Of all the grains and
root crops raised in the San Luis Valley
that their introduction meets with tho
highest favor in the best markets The
soil and climate are especially adapted
to the culture OF potatoes, and all kinds
OF vegetables grown there.
The great wheat-growing district lies
in the center OF the Valley and within a
radius of fifteen or twenty miles of Ala
mosa, The district west of Garrison
and Mosca, where sub-irrigation occurs,
produces most phenomenal yields.
Largely increasing areas during the last
six years have been devoted to wheat
culture but the depressed price common
TO the entire country will check produc-
ton and diversified and intensive farm
ing will be substituted. Tho superior
quality Of the flour product, however,
will justify canvassing for remoter mar
kets oven, should moro than a homo sup.
ply be grown. Some of the local and
the Denver mills manufacture special
product in demand for pastry and fancy
uses in the large eastern cities. Capital
will be invested in additional mills, ele-
vators and plants, to keep pace with
such growing demand.
PROFITABLE PRODUCTIONS.
The entire San Luis Valley is particu-
larly well adapted to the culture of
oats. Very large yields to the acre
from,60 to 100 bushels--are frequently
obtained. The farmers have neglected
in a measure this crop in favor of wheat
but more and more attention will be
given to it in the future. San Luis oats
weigh from forty to fifty pounds to the
bushel, and their quality is such as to
commend them to the attention of man
ufacturers Of oatmeal and TO breeders OF
horse stock, An oatmeal factory would
undoubtedly be paying investment in
the San Luis Valley.
Barley is also very profitable and
productive 'crop,-no better qualities
produced in the world and has peculiar
merit when converted into malt. 1t is
also very profitable for stock feed.
Alfalfa, species of clover, thrives in
the Valley, is cut twice each season,
yielding from three to four tons per acre
and for dairying and stock growing
qualities is unequalled.
Peas yield fifty bushels to the acre.
are free from weevi and are positively
unsurpassed in quality and quantity.
Combined with alfalfa, hog raising, al
ready fairly established, is certain to be
one of the great sources Of revenue in
the future to the San Luis Valley farm
or. There is no cholera or disease Of
any kind, Tho dry climate and nutri-
tious alfalfa afford unequalled facilities
for this industry.
Besides alfalfa, timothy and clover,
the extensive cegds, or natural meadow
lands furnish very profitable product,
Even the most arid section of the Valley,
if irrigated for n season or two, produce
a quality Of blue stem hay which COM
mands the very highest market price in
Iho hllhluS OlbUllCbSs
VINE AND ROOT CROPS.
Hops grow naturally in the small trib-
utary valleys in the mountains in great
profusion The domestic varieties have
been found to be also especially adapted
to the soil and climate of the Valley.
Spruce poles in the adjoining foot hills
are free for cutting, and considering
the absence of moisture, mildew and
other diseases which more humid eli
mate causes, eventually this will be one
Of the most remuneratlve crops grown
in the San Luis Valley.
Large quantities of potatoes have been
and will be raised in this Valley, and in
view Of the fact that a general reduction
OF east bound rates have made market
for them as far south and east rs Gal
vestion and st, Louis a rapidly increas-
cd acreage will result. To a person who
has consumed the imported articles OF
the product grown in our eastern states,
the Colorado potato is great and
agreeable surprise. establishments for
the manufacture Of potatoes into starch,
Saratoga chips; salads etc, would prove
to be valuable investment in the San
Luis Valley.
Owing to the newness of the country,
the large farms and scarcity of help,
very little beyond experimenting has
been done to advance the interests of
the sugar beet culture. Tho low prices
of wheat etc, and the relatively dimin-
ishing production will enforce attention
to this most promising industry. The
peculiar character of the soil, the advan-
tage Of irrigation, and the favorable eli
mate have demonstrated that with prop
or machinery and facilities, sugar beets
can be grown as choaply and in as large
quantities as elsewhere in the West 1t
is only question of time, therefore,
when a sugar beet factory will be estab-
lished and thereby add one moro profit
able export product,
DAIRYING AND CATTLE INDUSTRY.
AS yet but little attention has been
given to dairying in the San Luis Val
ley, although there are one or two very
fourishing factories. The farmers are
interesting themselves in the subject
now, and considering that Colorado is a
large importer Of the dairy products
from the Eastern States, it is but reason
able to conclude that under the new era
Of diversified farming, dairying will be
fayorite industry. II is quite possible