Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-12-19

The principal streams OF the county
are the Rio Grande, Rio Puerco and the
Rio Jemez. The Rio Grande traverses
the county from north to south for dis
lance Of about sixty miles. Broad allu-
vial bottoms skirt this stream on either
side. The principal seat Of population
is located in this valley; an it is noted
for the quality as we'll as the quantity of
its fruits grains and vegetables.
This valley is specially adapted to
grape culture, and this fruit now sue
cessfully completes in every market to
which it has been introduced with the
choicest product of the California vine
yards.
The grape most generally cultivated is
that known as the mission" variety,
supposed to have been introduced by
the Franciscan friars and cultivated in
the valley for the past two centuries.
Some small vineyards of the .'Muscatel"
are also found, but generally as table
grape. coming into market short time
before the other.
u0 tluoydIo6 are dll1O6L always
started from cuttings. planted from six
to ten feet apart each way, though some
growers prefer to trench the cuttings
and root them for planting the first or
second year after in the places where
they are to remain. The Mexican method
OF culture does not require stalking or
trellising, and the first three years are
directed more particularly to giving
strength to the main trunk. The vine
is closely trimmed each year, all super
huous wood cut away and only the trunk
and few short branches left, so that
we'll cared for plant of few short years
growth resembles a dwarf tree. 1t is
necessary in setting out the cuttings to
pack the soil closely about them, to turn
the water onto the plant from the irri.
eating ditch as soon as possible and,
when sufficiently dry, repack the dirt,
There is nothing more to do the first
season than to irrigate the vineyards at
certain intervals and keep the ground
free from weeds until November, when
the vines are covered with earth to pro.
tect them from the cold until spring.
The time for uncovering varies among
the different growers from the middle Of
February until the first Of April. They
are then allowed to stand from ten days
to month and then trimmed. But few
grapes will be produced until the third
season, but the labor of the cultivator
is needed every year in stirring the soil,
removing suckers, trimming, covering
and uncovering.
Much attention is now being given to
larger fruits, and, though it has only
been about twelve years since the inn.
proved varieties Of American fruits were
first introduced. fine orchards are -four
ishing in every settlement. These are
yielding large returns and doing much
to establish and maintain the reputation
which New Mexico is so rapidly acquir-
ing as one of the finest and most sue
cessful fruit growing districts on the
American continent The fruits Of the
temperate zone, without exception, find
kindly home in the Rio Grande valley.
Apples, however, will thrive better on the
uplands than in the low bottom lands. In
the high mountain valleys this fruit can
be raised without irrigation on account OF
the always abundant rain, and the
heavy SHOWS Of winter seem to improve
the quality and flavor Of the apple, es-
pecially the late varieties. Peaches,
PiutAe, CAoIIlo5 duu dprlCotS CurlV0 DOL
ter in the valleys.
Wheat raised in this county compares
favorably with the best in the United
States for weight and quality. Corn,
oats, barley and rye do equally as we'll.
These crops do we'll on uplands or bot
tom lands; but it must always be re-
membered that 1t does not pay to raise
grain at $40 or $25 per acre profit when
fruit pays from $3.50 to 500 per acre.
Alfalfa thrives all over the county. In
some few places it grows without irriga-
ton; but in the valleys where water is
abundant four cuttings Of about one
and half tons to the cutting per acre
are harvested. This crop is worth from
$40 to &15 per ton, according to the date
of sale, and, therefore, is good paying
crop. II fed to stock and sold in tho