The Lamar register., 1900-07-11
FARMING MATTERS.
tFrom Field and Farm.)

cueese ldCtorleS uaVe Deen eStaDlSneO
In Colorado during the past six months.
These are at Elizabeth, Case, Amo,
louisville, Fowler, Arvada, Colburn
and Amity, the latter being the Saliva
lion Army plant. If the butter and
cheese industry of the state increases
at the same ratio 1t has for the past
six months the home supply will be
equal to the home consumption, provid-
ed, of course, bull butter can be kept
out of the market. But this now seems
too much of an improbability.
Thinning is not practiced to the ex-
tent that it deserves for while direct
experiments are waiting, the fact re-
mains that the removal of third or
half of the number on the tree as oe-
casion demands greatly increases the
size and quality of the remaining fruits
and that as much and more prime
fruit is obtained with fewer culIs than
If left unthinned. Thinning is secured
in two ways, either by hand picking of
all the small and imperfect fruit and
sufficient of the remainder to leave
none closer than four or six inches,
and this is best done after the June
drop occurs.
We are frequently asked how often
sugar beets should be irrigated to make
the growing crop do its best during the
season. One man attirms that he can
secure a flow of water once in every
fortnight and desires to be informed IL
this is sufficient. In general terms we
should say that from twelve to fourteen
days during the months of July and
August is too long between waterings.
How to remedy this should call for the
best thought and action of the irrigator.
The time will come when every irri-
gator will consider the Importance of
having n reservoir on his place so as
to have the use of water when need
ed
Water should be applied in advance
of suffering by the tree. 1t is mistake
to allow the tree to fall into distress
and then seek suddenly to relieve it.
One advantage of irrigation is that it
may save the tree from unreasonable
efforts which result in irregular
growth, untimely blooming, etc, as has
been so often noticed. 1t is usually
too late to apply water to the best ad-
vantage after the tree shows the need
of it Its needs should be anticipated.
This year there has been plenty of wa
ter for irrigation up to date, but we
are somewhat dubious about the sup
ply holding out during July and Aug
ust.
The range owners wht years ago
tumbled over one another to get rid Of
their cows, heifers and bulls are now
paying the penalty. They have this
spring been forced to pay $50 to S25
head for yearlings of the better quality
and up to $50 for two-year-olds, while
for calves S15 and even $50 has been
paid. When to these prices are added
the cost of shipment TO grass, the cost
Of herding, salting and shipping to
market, the margin of profit will not
nearly equal that made by the man
who stuck to his old cows, his young
heifers and his bulls, and who is now
in position to sell for the prices nam
ed the calves that cost MIN only S5 to
rear or the yearlings that cost him less
than $40.
The orchard men of San Juan county,
New Mexico, have adopted standard
fruit boxes and will use them exclus-
lively in their packing operations. Com
petition in fruit will be brisk and the
man or grower who is careful with the
work of harvesting and packing will
find it easier to market his crop. Ap-
pies should be of three grades and uni
form in size, or as near as possible
fancy, merchantable and hotel. The
latter is used almost exclusively by ho-
tells, but they do not desire large ap-
pies, but they must be perfect in con-
tour and coloring and of small size.
Every box should be marked with stem
cn or stamp and the owners name
should stand as guarantee as to quail
ity and honesty in packing.
In describing tree bands for catching
the larvae of the codling moth David
Brothers of this city says: 81 make
bands from burlap sacks, cutting them
into four parts for the crotch of trees,
making the bands eight or ten inches
wide. then double the sack with the
raw edge downward, putting the bands
rather loosely around the trees and
eighteen or twenty inches from the
ground. l fasten them with sharp
pointed tack pressed in by the thumb,
putting the tack in the middle of the
band so as to catch the worms as they
go up or down the tree l take the
bands and sacks off every ten days
until the second week in September II
this Is not done many of the millers
will be lost. for it takes from ten to
twelve days only for the worm after it
crawls under the sack to turn to a
moth. We get two and sometimes
three crops of worms year in Colo
rado.'