Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-02-18
NATIONAL CAPITAL MESILLA THE FAIR
Spring Work Well Under Way in the
Valley--0rchards and Vineyards
in Fine Condition.
ELEPHANTBUTTE RESERVOIR
Large Influx of Settlers Will Follow Its
Completion Business Better Than
for Many Years-Sugar Beet
Season Long,

Special Correspondence New Mexican.
Las Cruces, N. NJ. Feb. l4.-Spring
has not yet put in it's appearance in the
Mesila valley but iris close at hand.
The warm sun, the swelling buds, and
the barefooted urchin in the middle of
the day, all herald the coming of ma
lures re-awakcnmg. In the fields the
plOws are turning over the rich soil pre-
paratory to the seeding, and all day
long the flash of bright shovels in the
sunlight marks the progress of the work.
ers as the bitches are cleaned for the
flow of irrigating waters. All these
signs of returning life in nature these
preparations for the years work have a
peculiar effect upon the dweler in the
town. His eyes have dreamy express
sion. a silly sungrin wreathes his counten-
ancc with a scasick glory and he longs
to be II boy ON the farm again. Ever
and anon he brcaths the prayer
Turn back. oh time in thy flight
And make me boy just for
the springtime, knowing full well that
II he were boy again ON the old farm
he would be hopping down furrow be-
tween the handles of plow, with a
stone bruise on his heel and the back of
his neck sunburned to blister. Spring
makes a fool of man, as well as of
animals, but since he is not responsible
for the effect of the warm earth smell
upon his blood, it is perhaps the better
part OF wisdom to pass lightly over the
yearly attack of lunacy.
As is well known, this valley contains
orchards noted for luscious peaches. big
apples of all colors, and fruits of many
other kinds, including the famous mis-
sion grapes, which grow to perfection at
this altitude and in this climate The
orchards and vineyards have passed
through the winter in excellent shape.
and If Jack Frost will keep an eye on
the calendar that his stay in this south
ern latitude may not be extended beyond |
his welcome, the yield of the trees and
vines the coming season will be all that
could be asked. Last year the greater
part of the late peaches was caught by |
a late frost, but the earlier varieties |!
gladdened the hearts of the orchardsts
with good crop of excellent quality. |
The apples were not damaged by frost
and the trees bore immensely. But the
apple growers are confronted by some
what serious state of affairs at present. |
The coddling moths becoming en-
tirely too numerous for rtherequirements
of the case. This insect is not Il native |
of New Mexico, but like the English
rabbit in Australia and the English
sparrow in America. it thrives and |
in its new home. In the
eastern states it breeds once a year. the
female producing 80: in the southern
part of the territory it is said to breed
three times year. and the female that
begins her household duties in the
spring becomes the proud progenitor of
about 27.00O descendants before frost
comes in the fall. At this rate of in
,reasc it has taken but short time to
make the coddling moth question a
burning one down here. Against this
pest determined war of determination
Will be Waged this year, even to the de-
Struction of the entire apple crop. il
that is determined to be necessary, bv
picking the blossoms from the trees. and
those who have some knowledge of the
habits of this pestiferous and DESTROYING
insect feel sangnine of success in re-
lucing the damage to the apples to a
minimum in the near future.
However, the orchardiSts are far from
being discouraged, and newly set orch
ards are very much in evidence.
The outcome of the Elephant Butte
lam injunction case is subject that
receives much attention in the valley,
Ind the decision to be rendered next
all by the United States Supreme court
$ anxiously awaited. While every one
$ positive that the injunction will be
dissolved and the company permitted
o complete the reservoir, yet an easier
ceiling would exist were that result an
accomplished fact. The community
iitches this year will be supplied from
he old wier dam above Dona Ana, and
here is every prospect for plenty of
water. The Rio Grande is flowing an
amount for the season-not
,nough to float a Mississippi fat-boat,
o be sure, but the ducks find a suf1i-
.ient depth to make swimming COM
ortable-and the great amount of snow .
II the mountains to the north promises