The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-19
Co1oRADo,s FREE FEAsTs.
Harvest Homes I'm Several styles Vow Givel
Every Fall.

Every Fall.
DENVER, Sept. 1.-THE autumn festivals of
the several farming and fruit-growing parts of
Colorado have been duly observed. and now the
country people arc preparing to como to Denver
during the first week of October to Join in the
frolics Of the Festival of Mountain and Plain.
which formally closes tho harvest holidays of
the State. Rocky Ford has had its watermelon
day, Loveland its corn roast. Grand junction its
peach day, Caion City its fruit day, and Monu.
ment its potato bake. These several feasts take
the place of the county fairs which were once so
popular in farming regions. The Colorado fes-
rivals have been in vogue for several years, and
their popularity seems to be on the increase.
Tho Denver carnival this year promises TO
eclipse the record made during tho two previous
entertainments.
Eight years ago Rocky Ford started the fall
festival by inviting the people Of the Arkansas
Valley to q FREQ feast Of watermelons. For years
the experiment of raising waterInelons had
proved successful. With q view to securing
immigration to the lands under irrigating
canals. 1t was thought that Q free exhibition of
the results of the farmers toll might arouse an
interest in tho farming country adjacent to
Rocky Ford.
The success of Watermelon Day was most
pronounced. This year five long excursion
trains carried into Rocky Ford over 1000 peo-
pie, while farmers drove into the town by the
hundreds. some coming forty miles. The farm
ers of the neighborhood contributed melons for
the feast, and in spite Of the great crowds there
were melons enough for every one and q
carry home. In a grove of cotton wood trees the
watermelons were heaped In q pile 100 feet long
green projectiles in a fort. It was estimated
that there were in that one pile five carloads of
watermelons we're cantaIoupes by the hundred.
Men In canvas aprons armed with iong,b AIDED
6niysS 81 stood %.,d behind and the as,v long b. tables lbs h shst in in:
the throngs that swarmed about.
AN q pavilion made st,; Of bales Mss d 81 SifSifH hay a
ments offered at county fairs for the visitors to
parades Of fancy stock before the grand stand.
Races for both horses and bicyclistg. and the
days programme closed with an exciting cow
boy race OF five miles, each contestant changing
horses at the end OF every mile.
These annual feRsts of melons have attracted
ton OF Otero county no 5 doubled during the last
Ford melons has increased marveIlo9siy. TINS
seasons commission merchants In New York
Fruit Growers Association for melons. which
could not be supplied because OF contracts made
the year. The association numbers over 300
members. and over 1000 carloads of melons
T TeeG fa anlppea net ns3@ $50 sco ah acre rSr on St their c 1ois % ssa an
average. though there are some insta noes where
paid for his tve-acre tract. which cost him 500
an acre. out OF the profits OF this ono season.
The next festival to become popular In Col
orado after Watermelon Day had been proved q
success was Peach Day at Grand Junction. Tho
feast OF peaches in September follows closely
the line set by the Rocky Ford melon growers.
There is a great pavilion with a centre piece of
peaches, fanked by baskets of pears. plums,
grapes, apples. and other palatable fruits, and
tho visitors are permitted to help themselves
the day is carried away to be enjoyed later. Like
Watermelon Day. 1t Is a free feast and nobody
is barred OUT
Loveland, about fifty miles north of Denver.
| enjoys an annual harvest festival known as q
Corn Roast. All the farmers for miles about
grow patches of sweet corn solely to furnish tho
main dish for the annual feast. On the day of the
festival wagon loa is of sweet corn In the husk
are brought to the scene OF the feast and dumped
into a great pit, where a bed of GOALS has been
prepared. Over the corn is packed alfalfa hay
and tho entire mass Is left to steam and cook.
BY the time tho excursion trains from Denver
AMI surrounding towns have arrived the corn is
ready to be served. Long tables are spread and
upon these the steaIning corn is heaped, along
with other food. but the corn is the chief food
supply. Here, az on Melon Day, the excursion
lists display enormous appetites. and The corn.
cobs strewn about after tho feast show how well
tho feast has been enjoyed. Following tho feast
tho farmers give the excursionists straw rides
through the farm country. .
Canon City. later in the season, gives q Fruit
Day. when tho apple Is the chief gift offered to
visitors. These autumn gatherings offer All the
advantages of the old.fashiOned harvest homes
and the county fairs. while smacking some
what OF novelty. They arouse tho interest OF
the farmers in their business and encourage
them 10 improve their condition.