Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-09-27
OTRRO COUNTY'S LARGEST
FARMER.
A Visit to Wm. Auclsland's AgricCl-
tural Kingdom Near Olney.

Four years ago, soon after the compile
ton of the Missouri Pacific to Pueblo,
VIM. and John Auckland, OF Denver,
came down to spy out the land. Being
early on the ground they had choice of
the fine body Of land lying adjacent to
Ordway and. Olney. VIM. Auckland
by lease and purchase acquired 720
acres and his brother $40 acres, all of
which is now under fence and largely
under cultivation. When we called
on VIM. Auckland last week he was in
the midst OF big job of threshing.
Flickinger & Wright's outfit had been
there two weeks and had yet more than
a weeks work ahead. Eight days had
been put in on alfalfa seed and at least
10 days more would be required to thresh
the wheat and oats. Some OF his alfalfa
ran as high us 10 bushels per acre, the
average being about IL bushels. One
bushel OF alfalfa seed weighs 60 pounds,
which at seven cents per pound brings
"a 20 per bushel. Take out 65 cents per
bushel for threshing expenses and we
have profit OF 1855 per bushel. With
an average OF II bushels per acre the
cash returns from each acre would be
$39.05, the whole 81 acres devoted to
S1,2l0,55. But this is not the whole
story as to alfalfa profit. There is yet to
be put into the account not only the
second crop of hay but the threshed hay,
which will amount-to considerable sum.
Last spring Mr.. Auckland seeded 80
acres OF land to alfalfa in connection
with oats and expects during the sum-
mer OF 1895 to cut 80 acres OF alfalfa for
seed. II he shall then realize such
prices as he has this year, he will be in
shape to start national bank at Olney.
The wheat that was being threshed on
the occasion of the ENTERPRIsE's visit
was yielding 80 bushels per acre of ex-
cellent plump grain. Mr.. A. estimated
that his entire acreage would average
about 25 bushels per acre, and the total
amount of wheat threshed about 5000
bushels. The farm has granary capacity
for 5000 bushels, so that Mr.. Auckland
can hold his grain until the market suits
him.
The 100 acre corn field was looking
well and promised profitable returns.
In the matter Of irrigation Of corn Mr.. A.
had an advantage over some farmers in
the fact that his corn rows are three
quarters of mile long, and the work of
regular farm force will not gather the
corn, that labor having been let by con-
tract.
There are now on the farm 200 Poland
China hogs, big aud little. Sixty Of
these will be fatted for this winters
markets and 100 more pushed for fat for
spring sales. Mr.. A. has plan of his
own for making hogs take on flesh as
fast as possible. A pig that will not
make hog of itself is not worth keeping
Mr.. AS pigs seem to have this laudable
ambition Qnr pig) and they are en-
couraged by system OF feeding which
piles on flesh ut remarkable rate. They
are fed all the soaked corn they will eat
and then coaxed to further indulgence by
Il tempting mess of soaked wheat. Feed
ing thus, five times day for six weeks,
Mr.. A. was enabled to turn off so hogs
which averaged 235 pounds at from to
8 months old. He finds sorghum an ex-
cellent feed for pigs, and his horses eat
the fodder readily and prosper on it. A
fine field of sorgo was being cut and
shocked last week.
In addition to the crops named above
Mr.. Auckland will have about 300 tons
of hay, which with the straw from $50
during the winter. MIR. Auckland docs
his own baling for two reasons: LIST. re-
tanning whatever profits may accrue
from the work. End, enabling him to
keep tho same force OF hands both winter
and summer. His practice is to employ
the best of helpers and keep them the
year round.
A force of 13 men and three teams is
required for threshipg and hauling the
wheat to the grapary. Flickenger Il
Wright have boarding house on wheels
and feed and lodge their own force, thus
effecting saving Of labor for Mrs.
Auckland which she highly appreciates.
Mr.. AS threshing bill for 1894 will be
about $500.