Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-02-18

very snowy apple. The Missouri Pipin
is the earliest bearer of all our winter
apples; good keeper. but inclined to be
small when trees are overloaded. This
defect can be easily avoided by proper
trimming. The tree, however. is shout
lived owing to it's early and profuse bear
ing. Another point in its favor-it holds
its fruit better than any other variety.
severe wind having but little effect on II.
An orchard planted 1890 feet makes 96
trees 10 the acre. At 8 years old the trees.
il properly cared for will have ut least 8
bushels per tree, or 4S0 bushels per acre.
At 10 years they will double this esti-
mate. After the third year the Missouri
Pipin will bear enough fruit to pay all
expenses Of cultivating the orchard.
While this is the home OF all varieties
OF hardy plums, prunee, pears and cher
RES, and large assortment Of small fruit
succeed we'll here, the apple Is destined
to be the King Of fruit as alfalfa is King
OF farm crops. In fact alfalfa and it's pro-
ducts, and winter apples are destined to
be the two great industries Of the Arkan.
eas valley.
OVER PRODUCTION.
We hnve il predicted that when oil the
trees now being planted come to bearing,
apples will not be worth gathering. It is
probably true we will not be able to get
from 3 to cents per pound for our
apples when that time comes and, like
all other crops, there will BIO seasons
when perhaps the crop will not bring the
returns we expected, but taking the sea-
sons as they como, I am confident we
will find no crop that will yield anywhere
near ms large returns Tor the labor and
capital expended as apples. When prices
are low ut gathering time We can easily
store them away until the surplus is ex-
hausted, as our cool, dry winters enable
us to do 30 with but little loss. Our ex-
port trade is increasing every yenr, be-
sides, our own population is increasing
rapidly, especially in tho cities, 30 that
the domand keeps pace with the supply.
PLANTING.
Spring is undoubtedly the best time to
plant trees Of all kinds, but no trees
should be planted later than April 30.
My mode Of planting is to throw ont two
two shallow burrows in tho row where
the trees are to be set and then run wa
ter through them until they arc well
soaked. Then as soon us the ground is
dry enough ~ admit Of il, furrow out
deep as it can he plowed, (have q man
ride the beam il necessary throwing a
furrow each way and one in the center,
or plow three deep furrows for each row.
This saves vast amount OF shoveling
which is slow and expensive. BY plow-
ing We have plenty OF loose, moist dirt to
put around the trees which should be
firmly tamped around tho roots, after
which, follow up with ten-inch plow,
filing up tho furrow in the tree row and
leaving furrow on each side in which
to run wuter for irrigating.
/ CyrrTrvArYON
My advice Is to cultivate early and
ground bake around tho trees; cultivate
after irrigation and ms soon us you can
get on the ground after it is watered
Cultivation is what mulkes trees look
thrifty, smooth and glossy.
PRUNING.
The time to begin pruning trees is al
the end Of the second years growth, when
the orchard should be gone over by an
experienced person who Is capable oi
properly shaping the future tree, as il
can be done cheaper then than at any
other time. By careful pruning every
spring, or late in the winter, you have a
perfectly shaped tree when Il comes to
bearing and one that will not split down
with its first load OF fruit Pruning an
orchard after it comes into bearing 1t ex-
pensive and ruinous to the orchard
The ccst OF going over the young orchard
every year will be but little as Il can be
done during the winter months when
there is not much else TO do. A good
man will trim from 300 to 800 trees day
md do it well.
SIZES TO PLANT.
prefer small trees 8 to feet and
strait whip. LIST because it costs less to
plant them, and 2nd, we get trees with a
main central stem running through the
tree, and the side branches will be eveu-
!y distributed along tho stem, thus avoid
ing forked trees which arc liable to split
down and ruin the tree just at time
when II is worth the most to us,
| IRRIaATIoN.
As there is great difference in soil in
different sections of the valley no special
rule can be laid down for irrigating trees.
On high, sandy land the trees will need
watering often, indeed 1t will be hard to
give them too much water the first year.
On heavy or adobe land not well drained
we must use great care or we will ruin
the trees by too mnch water. In fact we
must thoroughly understand the nature
Of the soil il we expect to get the best re-
suits from irrigation.
lnls was followed by lively discus
sion participated in largely by Messrs.
J. II. and Frank Crowley, Kain and
Conner.
Mr.. Kain favored the Rome Beauty.
There is no dangor OF overproduction.
Mr.. Berry said the Baldwin was very
poor sort for Colorado.
Mr.. Crowley said the Bellhower would
boar in about IL years.
At this point in the program Frank
Crowley read an able rnd interesting pa.
per on "Small Fruit for profit, the length
OF which requires that it go over to next
week.
Friday evening Prof. l.. G.. Carpenter
gave n most interesting lecture on .Irri-
CATION in Many Lands" which was at
tended by crowded house.
SATURDAY MORNING.
The program opened with 'Dairy
Prospects for Otero County" In the
absence Of Gus. Thompson the topic WINS
taken up by l.. w. Babcock. He said
that when tho skimming station opened
here in March, 1895 it commenced oper-
atoms on ono can OF milk. He is now
receiving 1000 pounds daily. This shows
that the people arc gradually getting ed
ncated to the dairy business. We have
So patrons who have fairly good COWS.
The lowest tost was 3 per cent, the high
est G.l per cent, the average being "A per
cent. Our rule is to test twice each
month, keeping the samples sweet with