Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-10-27
OUTSIDE WRITER.
Hs Was Here During the Fair and
Gives His Views.
POSSIBILITIES GREAT.

Rocky Ford, Colo, Oct. 23.--At the
request Of Senator Barela, l write you
q few Of my Impressions of your Sec
tion Of country as formed during my
recent brief Investigations there and
while acting as one of the judges of
fruits. vegetables and cereals at your
territorial fair.
The great variety of fruit grown
there and the fact that the exhibits
from all parts Of the territory contain
ed specimens Of the leading market
varieties shows tlzzl horticulture In
New Mexico has long since passed the
experimental stage. The coloring OF
the fruit and its soundness. good flaw
or and keeping qualities is such as can
only be produced under irrigation and
with plenty OF sunshine. You have a
soil well adapted to fruits and vege-
tables. The worst drawback is the in
sect enemy which see are getting a
foothold there, as they do everywhere
else where fruit Is grown extensively.
The remedy for this evil is much sim.
pier than many suppose and IL your
people will make inquiries from your
agricultural college and experimental
station they will get all information
necessary as to the best methods of
spraying and otherwise fighting all in
sects and diseases of trees and plants.
The large collection Of cereals and
other farm crops In the display from
your agricultural college show what
can be done in that line.
Considering how we'll alfalfa, peas.
and corn grows on your soil | was
much impressed with the possibilities
of fattening sheep and hogs IL your
farmers would take up the culture of
sugar beets Tor feed. The farmers Of
Colorado, where they have grown
beets for the sugar factories have
found heets almost as valuable for
stock feed as for the manufacture of
sugar and they are taking the place
of corn TO a certain extent. You have
the sheep. the land and the labor. II
your water supply is certain you have
the best place for the establishment of
an extensive stock feeding business to
be found any where and later, when
you have grown beets long enough to
demonstrate the practicability of pro-
ducing them in large amounts. you
ought to have a sugar factory.
Although it was too late in the sea
son to see the quality of melons you
produce. should judge your climate
and soil would be well adapted to the
culture of the Melted Gem cantaloupe.
the one which has made Rocky Ford
famous, and owing to your location
they would mature early and would
reach the northern markets in good
condition at a time when good prices
could be realized.
With the practical results of hun
dred years of farming in Bernalillo
county, and land to be bought very
cheaply and good prospects of the
early admission of New Mexico in the
union of states. and a consequent in
fiux of capital for investment at that
time, it would seem that now there are
wonderful opportunities for the invest
ment of money by men who know
enough of the conditions and of the
possibilities TO be conservative in max
ing improvements.
| am sorry was not able to see you
while in Albuquerque. but hope this
will take the place of the interview
which | understand you desired to
have. Very respectfully.
w. FRANK CROWLEY.