Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-02-18
OTERO COUNTY FARMERS
AND HORTICUL LTURISTS INSTITUTE.
Largest Profitable Gathering of Farmers and fut
Growers Ever Held in Southern Colorrdo.
Valuable Papers Read ON Topics q
Vital Importance to the Valley.

Valuable Papers Read ON Topics OIL
Vital Importance to the Valley.
The opening session was an agreeable
surprise 10 everybody, the attendance
being Unexpectedly large. Prof. Cooke
paid the Otero county farmers compi-
ment by saying that, while he had at
tended many institutes, the opening OF
this one at Rocky Ford had the largest
attendance and gave more promise OF
success than any in his experience.
In his opening address Chairman Kel-
logg touched on the unfavorable political
situation, defended the Agricultural Col
Iege from the charge OF extravagance,
and paid high tribute to the value OF
farmers institutes. Tho present de-
pressed condition Of the farming inter-
ests he attributed to the feet that in the
last 80 years, through the medium OF the
homestead law, the government had Civ
en- away over 100000 farms Of 90 acres
each, which had increased the prodao-
ton beyond the growth Of population.
THIS abnormal development has reached
it's limit and soon a normal condition will
return, bringing upon its wings prosper
ity to the farmer.
PROF. w. W. COOKIES LECTURE.
Sheep Feeding in Colorado and Its
Profits. -..l.
The best sheep for Colorado farmers to
feed are tho New Mexican as they sell
much better in the Chicago market than
the sheep raised at home. The southern
sheep has the better flavor, don't shrink
SO much and the pelt is worth more.
The basis of the feeding question is the
length of time it takes to feed sheep for
market. Colorndos advantage in the
Chicago market is that our farmers can
furnish fat sheep at time when the
ers in tho east must fatten early, before
the spring rains begin. They plan to
have their sheep on the market before
April LIST. This gives us the April and
May market all to ourselves. We cnn
feed six or seven months and sell at o
profit. The prices which Colorado feed-
ers pay for lambs ranges from 81. 10 to
81 50. When fattened, these lambs bring
s4.OO in Chicago giving good returns for
hay, grain and labor.
All southern sheep must be dipped
to cure scab. At the college We have
tested many dips. Limo and sulphur
is good, but injurious to the sheep and
mean to use. There are several carbolic
acid preparations on the market which
seem to be the best obtainable, as one
dipping with them is a perfect success il
used hot, say 100 to ITO degrees. Zero
wcather kills the eggs OF the mites:
Sheep should be dipped before being put
into the pens where they are to be fed.
Commense by feeding hay alone, then
add small ration Of grain, afterward in
crease to full feed. Southern sheep can
not be fattened fast. Their growth
must be finished here and the fat put on
afterward. You must feed five or six
months. There u no advantage in hur-
rying to heavy grain feed. The low
price Of eastern corn has tempted some
feeders to hurry the fattening by too
heavy feeding Of grain. This is bad
Judgment for too heavy grain feed tends
TO injure the sheep's digestion. There is
should be ground. Sugar beets are good
feed for tho early part, or growth period
OF the feeding season, but does not take
the place of corn for the four or five
weeks before shipment. Ensilage makes
as good growth as hay and grain COM
bined but the growth is watery.
Hon. j. II. Crowley said that q bill
wns pending before the legislature allow.
ing New Mexican sheep to be imported
without inspection and that he had op-
posed the bill. He would like an OK
preston from those present on the
subject.
A. G. Conner said that Colorado sheep
did not need dipping but that all New
Mexico sheep did. He favored q quar-
antine law.
NJ. Badger said quarantine laws were
necessary.
J. P. Stevenson said that New Mexico
sheep should not be imported without
digging. .,
the dip at higher temperature than ITO
degreos?" In his Australian experience
the dip was 11s degrees.
Prof. Cooke said he did not object to
1lS degrees, but 1876 would scald.
In answer to question by Mr.. Steven
son PROT Cooke said that the average
weight Of sheep sold on tho Chicago mar
ket was 80 pounds and that the shrink
age in shipment was from TO Q pounds
per head.
Prof. Cooke: It don't pay to increase
the grain feed Of lambs to III pounds
per day.
w. r. GIBSON'S PAPER.
Apple Growing in tho Arkansas
Valley.
An eminent horticulturist once said:
God could have made better fruit than
the strawberry, but He never did" And
it is my belief that God could have made
better place for growing apples than
the Arkansas Valley in Colorado, but il
He did we have never found that place.
There is probably no place in the
United States where larger number of
varieties can be grown more successfully
than in the Arkansas Valley, but. our