Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-08-09
81 KANSAS FARMERS f.!
The Guests of the Wa
termelon Metropolis.
CAR RRIAGE DRIVES
Over the Finest Farming
Region in Southern
Colorado.
The Day Closing With a Banquet,
Music and Speeches
CAR RIAGE DRIVES
THE DRIVE.

special Rock Island coach was
side-tracked at Rocky Ford con-
tanning ffty-two farmers from
Goodland, Kansas, members of the
Sherman county Irrigation Asso-
citation. They were were met early
in the morning by Messrs. Swink,
Wyccff and Barley, reception
committee, and the program of the
day arranged At $50 some 25
carriages, furnished by the citi-
zens town and country, were
provided and our guests driven to
Crowley & Sons Fsirview or
chards. In front of Mr.. Crowley's
home he had arranged a display of
fruits aud grains grown on his
premises, which for variety, quail
ity and beauty astonished the Wis
itor. An invitation was extended
to walk through the plum orchard
and the trees were found bending
beneath their load of ripe fruit.
A drive through the apple orchard
showed the method of irrigation
by bitches, and on another part of
the farm flooding was in progress.
An inspection of the orchard, with
its great wealth of fruit, was rev.
elation to the dwellers of the semi
arid plains of western Kansas. In
the old Sunday school books were
pictures of the spies returning
from the Promised Land carrying
a bunch of grapes on a pole be-
tween them. Mr.. Crowley fearing
that his visitors might tell some
marvellous stories when they re-
turned, and would need corrobor-
ative proof, cut off branches of
plum and apple trees for them to
calry home, that their neighbors
might not lose all faith in their
veracity. These branches were
not such as would require two men
to carry them, but they will speak
volumes for the horticultural re-
sources of Otero county wherever
they may be exhibited.
From the Fairview orchards the
party drove to the Arkansas Valley
Experiment Station. Mr.. Hunt
ley was absent at the time, but the
freedom of the place was granted
our visitors and the entire farm
brought under inspection while
driving through its avenues. The
thrifty condition of the great var
iety Of crops, the thorough culture,
and the general air Of neatness
which prevailed throughout the
farm won the admiration of the
entire party. From this point the
party divided and went in various
directions through the country
eastward Of Rocky Ford. A num-
ber of the carriages drove over to
the Fairmount district where the
abundant crops of all kinds elected
constant expressions of wonder and
delight.
The great acreage of alfalfa and
the great stacks which ornamented
the fields, with the second and
third crops yet to be harvested,
filled our guests with surprise.
After dinner at the Hotel De
Seeley and the Swink hotel the
carriages were taken for a drive
westward. j. @. ,Kain's fine Or
chard was first visited, where an
other surprise in the horticultural
line awaited our visitors. The trees
were found heavily laden and his
large vineyard not only thing of
beauty but carrying loads of grapes
not surpassed in any country. The
new headgate of the Rocky Ford
canal was examined and our guests
given an opportunity of seeing the
initial step in irrigation. j. w.
Beaty's orchard only intensified
the Kansas farmers appreciation
of the fruit growing resources of
the valley. During the afternoon
the party scattered in many direc-
tions but all the various groups
met with fine farming country and
the most luxuriant of crops. Those
who visited Patterson valley found
one of the richest portions of our
country.
THE BANQUET.
At six p. m. our guests assembled
in Odd Fellows hall where feast
was spread, provided by the ladies
Of Rocky Ford and vicinity. The
tables looked beautiful with the
substantials and luxurles of life,
and were ornamented with lovely
flowers. A number of our hand
some young ladies, tastefully
dressed, acted as Mattresses, and
our Kansas friends entered heart
lily into the spirit of the occasion.
After supper e short address of
welcome was made by Hon. j. II.
Crowley, in which he spoke of the
great extent Of irrigable lands in
the valley and the great need of
many more industrious hands to
properly cultivate our thousands
of fertile acres. Five acres of our
soil will support family. Mr.. G.
gave number of statistics showing
what munifcient returns per acre
.aoI..a.1