The Holly chieftain., 1900-01-05
s31.O62.G6S

Agriculture in Colorado has seen
more successful years than 1899. The
crop yield, ms a whole, was below the
average. The causes which contrib
uted to this result were a cold, back
ward spring all over the state. and
want OF sufficient water supply in
parts. The value of the crop of 1899
was about so per cent of that of 1898.
which would give it an approximate
value of S21. 1.OO0,OOO.
Out of the 100000 acres under
ditch in Colorado. 1t can be "ssumed
that nearly 100000 We're placed in
crops. The prospect for an abundant
water supply for irrigation. on account
of. the heavy snowfall of the preceding
winter was not realized in all sections
of the state. The snowfall was un-
even, being greatest about the source
OF the Arkansas and the Rio Grande.
While northern Colorado had plenty of
water, the farmers of the San Luis
valley and of the lower Arkansas had
an insufficient supply. On the western
slope. particularly in the valleys of the
Gunnison and the Grand, there is
never shortage of water
The year has not witnessed any large
extension of the irrigation systems, ex-
cept by the Great Plains company In
tne ARKANSAS valley.
In northern Colorado. in the valleys
OF the Platte. Bear creek. Clear creek.
the Boulder. st. Vrain. Thompson and
Cache-la-Poudre. the crop was an av
erage one. Wheat was up to the stand
ard and exceeded in quality. but not
in quantity. the yield of the preceding
year. The potato crop was $500 car
loads. an increase of 1000 carloads
over 1898. with prices ranging at an
average of G5 cents per 100 pounds.
The first cuttings of alfalfa We're light
er than usual. because of the cold
spring. but subsequent cuttings were
an improvement. All vegetables did
well, as did also all of the small grains.
In the lower Arkansas valley crops
were not up to the standard. because
of n scarcity of water. and in the San
Luis valley, also. the crops fell below
the average. In western Colorado the
crops were good. rs they were also in
the Divide country. in the Animas and
Montezuma valleys, in southwestern
Colorado and in the Eagle and upper
Grand valleys in the mountain dis
tricts.
In the valleys OF the Big Thompson
and Cache-la- Poudre. $4,000 lambs
are being fed this year. The high
price Of lambs caused n reduction from
last years totals, but larger number
of cattle are being fed.
While there was shipped out Of the
state last year only one-fourth MS much
wheat as during the preceding year,
the Colorado millers shipped more
flour. which indicates that there will
be less wheat carried over than there
was a year ago. There were 100000
bushels of wheat harvested during the
year, against 6.OOO,OOO for 1898: 20O,-
900 We're shipped out Of the state;
while In 1898 100000 bushels were
shipped. During each year 100000
bushels were required for seed. In
1899 the Colorado mills ground 4,200.-
0JO bushels and in 1893 they ground
4.SOO.OOO. The wheat acreage harvest
ed in 1890 was 100000 acres. while in
1893 100000 acres We're harvested.
The yield Of potatoes was largest in
the vicinity Of Greeley and Eaton. 1t
is estimated that 5000 cars We're
shipped from Greeley. while the prod
net In the Eaton district was 1900
cars