The Globe-republican., 1903-11-19
ANOTHER BIG
YEAR COMING.

year is rs good as 1t was this, Ford
county will enjoy even more prosperity
\ than 1t did this year.
The acreage Of both wheat and alfalfa
have been increased materially and a
still larger increase Of vlfalfa is promised
for the spring, Othe. kinds of bay, corn
and vegetables are also being increased.
According to estimates furnished by
the Dodge City grain dealers, who have
made close Investigations over the coun.
ty, the increase Of wheat will be about
20 per cent and that Of alfalfa about ID
per cent. The Alfalfa Increase Is prinoi
pally 10 the valley, however the upland
farmers will plant great deal Of hay In
the sprlAg. II has been proven BY expert.
ment that the uplands 10 the county will
wake very good alfalfa and many farm
aFs will SOW few acres for their own
use.
For many years Ii was not believed
that the high lasds Of this county would
grow anything but wheat, but recently
farmers have been fairly successful with
alfalfa and corn as well as melons and
other garden stuhs.
The increase In the wheat acreage Is
general over all the county, lii the
southern and western part Of the county
the increase Is estimated at about 25 per
cent and all over the county at least 20
per cent. Many farmers were late in
drilling, however, and some do not ex-
pect to get full crop unless the seasons
are suitable. Wheat that was planted
early gives every promise Of "a fine yield.
This year the county's yield of wheat
was the largest in Its history, not a sin
gle field has been reported as total
failure, and fey have produced less than
is bushels per acre. Some fields have
produced as hlgh as 30 bushels per acre;
that of r. Z. Drake, five miles southwest
Of town making 53 bushels of good heavy
grain. Several other fields Oh high lands
have produced as well.
Many farmers are delaying In selling
and careful estimates place the grain still
in bins at nearly 40 per cent.
MI. Drake has reported the largest
yield of wheat, which was 53 bushels, as
gwen above.
Victor Carson, three miles east of
Dodge, has had the largest yield Of alfal-
ia seed, averaging two bushels per acre
on 800 acres. He is one of the most ex
tensive alfalfa growers in the county.
According to lhe best information re-
ceived here the following shows the
amount Of wheat marketed in the county
at the five markets:
Dodge City. ......r......2O 100000 bushels
Spearville. e.............l l75, 1000 bushels
Ford. .22O,OOO bushels
Bucklin. ................ .225, 900 bushels
Wright. ,............... $4,000 bushels
The small amount at Spearville is ac-
counted for in the fact that many farmers
there have held their wheat and will not
market very extensively until later in
the winter.
The straw crop this year has yielded
the wheat farmers a good sum Of money.
In many cases they have sold the straw
by the acre getting from 81 to $l,25 per
acre. Very little straw remains uusold.
Prices, too, have been very good this
year, ranging from 50 cents to GA cents.
The majority Of the crops marketed so
far brought 60 cents.
The price of alfalfa seed this year
proved good thing for many Of the val
10y farmers, $3.50 was the ruling price
but some brought 81 90. Dodge City is
the only market in the county that has
made much effort to buy alfalfa seed
TO date about 5000 bushels have been
: marketed here and II Is said that about
4 1000 are still to come in.
This has also been a good year for
dairy and poultry producers. Cream and
butter have broughtagood price through
out the year and the amount has been
nearly twice what 1t was last year. Poul-
try has been scarce nearly all the years
the farmers prefering to keep the hen,
and sell eggs. The eggs marketed at
Dodge City, Spearvlle, Ford and Back
lin, however, has amounted to nearly
S3OOOper month from the the first of the
year
CA9ToRTA.