Rocky Ford enterprise., 1895-01-03

enough two men arm themselves, one
with two or three extra pairs, of overalls
or pair OF overalls oiled for the occa-
sion, or better still, pair of '.chaps" and
a thick pair of gloves. Thus equipped,
one man backs over bushes gathering
shoots, meanwhile with hands lays it
down and puts foot on tips while the
other puts on dirt enough to hold it
down. Then take plow and throw fur
rows from each side. This will partly
cover. Leave few days or till just be-
fore ground freezes, then cover with
shovel securely. AS we have considera
BILE wind it is well to cover the mounds
thus formed with manure to keep dirt on,
which also fertilizes ground, thus ans
wering double purpose. In spring I'M
cover after hard freezes are over, say
April, or before canes begin to bud.
Use plow first then after day or two
use potato hook. Cultivate thoroughly
both ways thus leveling your ground off
nicely.
As new shoots grow pinch them off to
about three or four feet. This has a
double purpose, making more con-
venlent to cultivate and causing them to
send out branches and mako bush thick
and strong, thus better able to stand
against heavy winds.
Cu-rants and gooseberries require a
cool, moist and rich soil and location.
They respond to good cultivation and
high manuring. Require considerable
pruning, cutting ont weak shoots and
also all cid bearing wood. Prune in
winter and burn all trimmings to destroy
disease and insect life that may be there
in. For varieties I would recommend
the Red Dutch and Red Cherry currants,
and the Downing, Houghton, English
and White Smith gooseberries. Above
Ia 10 TO
very large with high cultivation and fer
tilization. l have heard it said, "the
Houghton and Downing gooseberries for
profit and the English for pleasure"
This was not my experience. Though
we do not say but what the former are
both profitable, still while we sold our
Downing for from 10c to 15c per gallon,
we got from 35c to 45c and even SOC per
gallon for our English, and ready sale
Our English gooseberries were very large,
about the size of wild plums. We seem
to have had extra success with them.
We had our Downing on one side and
our Houghton on the other with our
English in the middle and L think, per-
haps they took their yielding qualities
from the others.
I do not think we have any ironclad
cane fruit that will stand the winters of
the Arkansas valley. We had to protect
at Denver and see but little difference
between here and there. 1t is not the
severity of the winter that hurts. If it
would stay cold all winter and then get
have to protect, but it is the frequent
freezes and thaws TINT do the damage.
In closing i will say let the watchword
be: Manure well and cultivate we'll.
This will put you on the road to success.
In answer to a question by Mr.. Gau-
ger, Mr.. Stanbridge said that it was best
to uncover raspberries enrly rather than
ste, say early in April, or as soon as
sprouts are half-inch long. Tie up bush
es and plow both ways to level the
ground.
]. @. Kahn said he had had good crops
of raspberries for four years and had new
er covered his Black Caps. The Red are
not so hardy.
In answer to question by Mr.. Steele,
Mr.. Stanbridge said that the Red Caps
outsold the Black five to one. The
Black Caps were suited to drying but the
Red sold almost as readily as strawber-
ries. He grew berries among apple trees
until orchards were ten years old, insur-
ing good cultivation of the orchard.
j. G. Kain and J. L. Gauger said they
had not had good success with currants,
Stanbridge said they should he well fer
tilized and all dead and weak wood
pruned away.
Frank Crowley said that the Fairview
orchards had good success with both
currants and gooseberries, and were
growing six varieties Of currants.
MIR. Gauger said that he attributed the
success of Mr.. Crowley and Mr.. Norton
with cnrrants to sub-irrigation.
Mr.. Stanbridge said that the Manches-
ter stl awberry might be kept from rot
keep the ground moist. Blackberries
We're a good crop and would produce
paying crops eight out OF eleven years.
OF late years the small fruit market had
been flooded by superior strawberries
from Oregon. The Arkansas valley was
two weeks earlier than Denver vicin-
ity and with the. advantage of getting
fruit into that market in as good shape
as that grown near the city, the business
should be a success. We can cope with
Oregon and Kansas berries as our stock
gets to market in much fresher condl-
tion.
Frank Crowley said the Tyler was tho
earliest raspberry and hardy. The Red
Caps winter-killed more or less unless
covered. They protected their bushes
last winter and the yield was SO good
that covering will be done regularly here
after. Dewberries do extra we'll, bearing
all the time and requiring no covering.
The Lucretia is the best. They ship
equally as well as blackberries.
%. Robb recommended tying the black
berries to stake, enclosing them with n
hoop.
On motion of j. e. Gauger the offices
of secretary and treasurer were consoli.
dated, the treasurer stepping down and
out.
Secretary Crowley read list of men,
bers who had paid dues this year. The
committee on program selected the sub
ject of Cherries for the next meeting,
Saturday, January IL, to be opened by J.
E. Gauger. At this meeting papers will
be due from contestants for w. r. Glib
sons prizes for essays on "Hhe Cultiva-
tion Of Small Fruits in the Arkansas val
ley"
Distressing Accident at Ordway.
Last Saturday evening Arthur Morey,
n 14-van r,O1l hOv LIVING m the farm Of