Gilpin observer., 1900-07-26
FARMING MATTERS.

oheep no doubt Improve range rather
than Kill 1t out as has often been
claimed by those who object to the
range use Of forest reserves. A year
ago MIR. Massey had n dipping corral
In the foothills of Jefferson county.
The sheep tramped about the place un-
til every vestige of green had apparent
~ been eradicated and the spot looked
ns bare as highway. Last week he
visited the old corral and was sur
prised to find the grass there kneehigh
and ready to be cut for hay. Wild oats,
timothy and other grasses had taken
possession and were better than they
had ever been.
"We have been trying an expert
ment," says Major w. A. Towers Of
Prowers county, (which has proven
highly successful. 1t has been the old
case Of Mohamet and the mountain ap-
piled to feeding Colorado stock, or a
question whether it was better to take
stock to where the feed grows or the
feed to where the cattle grow. Last
season we, instead of shipping great
herds to Missouri and Kansas corn
fields, transplanted the corn yield to
Colorado, where grass is usually two
feet high and the altitude about right.
The experiment, as l said, was success
full, in that the stock fattened the first
month, whereas in the Missouri valley
states it requires thirty days for cow
to begin taking ON flesh. This COW goes
better on the market, has more flesh
carries more substantial weight"
There are many trees in various parts
of Colorado that wear out the patience
of owners by failing to bear. They are
apparently old enough, big enough,
and have had everything in the way of
cultivation and irrigation, and yet they
will not bear. 1t may be that exces-
sive kind treatment has been the cause
of unfruitfulness. They have grown
too much and are yet in the wood-mak-
ing business rather than in fruit bear
ing. 1t may be that the variety is not
an early bearing one and the proper
time to bear has not come. The eli
mate also may not favor early bearing.
Bearing may. sometimes be haStened by
the same means recommend for excess
sive wood growth. This is to check.
There are several ways to do this. The
roots may be cut back, but this plan Is
likely to permanently cripple the tree.
good plan is girdling in early summer.
Trees of stone fruits are much more
stISlllNt W anu W III NV N''"'N
such treatment as described, nor do
they usually need anything to force
them into bearing.
In some portions of Weld, Larimer
and Boulder counties the grasshoppers
are said to be thicker than at any time
since the locust plague struck the state
in 1874 and are voracious eaters. Army
worms also seem especially FOND OF
peas, which they are taking clean as
they move from field to field. This re-
calls how Field and Farm has fire.
Quently urged growers to keep a hock
of turkeys that they may cope with the
insects, and the advice seems more sal
lent now than ever. Apropos it might
be well to add that Richard Finch,
farmer in Saline valley, Kansas, has
written that grasshoppers have been SO
numerous in his district this summer
as to do considerable damage to all
crops. He has drove of 1000 young
turkeys and soon discovered that his
poultry was more than match for the
grasshoppers. The turkeys destroyed
the hoppers almost as rapidly as they
could light on his premises and before
they had time to work any destruction
Presently Mr.. Finch's neighbOrs no
and luxuriant while their own were
barren in spots and they investigated.
When they found out about Finch's
turkeys a few of the enterprising far
mers began to negotiate for the use OF
the flock. Finch proceeded on the the
ory that 100 turkeys were as valuable
as n farm hand and accordingly fixed
n rental of 81. 80 day for each 100 tur-
keys. The entire flock is In demand
and Mr.. Finch derives a revenue OF 80
day on his investment.
The bountiful application Of irriga-
tion water coupled with the several
rains we have had this season have
caused the spring plowed lands to
bake hard and some farmers wish their
soils were like they used to be. They
wonder why their soils bake. To pre-
vent baking the soil must be opened
that Is the fine particles must be push
ed apart so aS to admit air ana water.
Open or sandy soils rarely bake, be-
cause the particles are too large to be
pressed compactly together. sand Will
tighten the clay mixed through IL for 1t
makes the soil open and mellow. Ma
nurc or n green crop like alfalfa, beans
or peas well plowed In will loosen The
Sbll 'iuh n'ib u oI'i. wv ~ Wv ''"'''
of time this organic matter may burn
up unless renewed and the soil is left
to bake again. Lime acts ola the me
PARTICLES of soil TO bind them together
This leaves the soil coarscr Dnd more
open and the water and air can work
In better. A familiar illustration Of
this principle is seen when n quantity
of lime Is thrown into muddy water.
The Watpr is muddy because the little
particles of soil are so light and small
that they will not sink easily. The lime
binds these little particles together so
that they precipitatc freely and In n
short time the water Is clear From
twenty to twenty-five bushels Of lime
an acre Is the right amount, hut adobe
soils carrying gypsum or other caltar-
eous ingredients must not he lined. 1t
L. Lrlinr In nIIi II lrnulcu II afIri sual-