The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1904-04-09

VI. Mr.. Breckenridge not being present
The meeting was opened by Prof. Car
lyle OF the State Agricultural College.
Prof. Carlyle opened the meeting by
explaining its object and purpose which
vas to give all the help and information
potato growing industry Of the San Luis
Valley. Mr.. p. +. Sharp OF Denver.
president Of the Board Of the Agricul-
tural College was then introduced. Mr..
Sharp gave short address describing
the college and its work. MIR. f. II.
Grubb Of Carbondale. one OF the largest
<snd most successful potato growers on
the western slope, and Messrs c. II. and
f.. X. Bliss also large and successful
potato growers Of Greeley were present.
Mr.. c. II. Bliss. was then called upon
to open the discussion on the prepara-
iion Of the soil for potatoes.
1t was stated that the San Luis Valley
potatoes were coming into competition
with the Greeley potatoes and that
while Greeley was the largest potato
growing district in the west and that
nearly all Of the potatoes which left
Colorado wen, "a Greeley potatoes and
many Of them sold on the merits Of the
Greeley potatoes. but that the time was
not 10. distant when the San Luis Val
own. Mr.. Bliss said that they were
Hnxious and willing to give TO the potato
growers in the San Luis Valley all the
help and information they could from
What experience they had had and that
while the conditions were not the same
here. still their experience could be
varied to suit these conditions.
The first important principle in N
good crop Of potatoes il to have the
kround properly prepared; that is, find
out what crops To grow in rotation. In
6reeley they grow two or three crops Of
alfalfa tpeas being considered nearly an
good ~ alfalfa and better adapted to
this valley aud then two crops Of pota-
toes and change back to alfalfa or peas
again and rotate in that way. Plow
under the alfalfa after il has made
stand Of irou SIX to fifteen inches about
the lat Of May and the Greeley potatoes
ye planted shout the 18th Of May up
into June. The depth Of the blowing
depends = great deal on the soil. Seven.
ten u eleven inches are about the right
9spths to pillow, about eight inches gen
orally. In the case u a very heavy soil,
fourteen inches il not too deep. In
0rrelry Their. is very little sub soiling
done. Use all the manur. You can get,
shout ten loads To the acre. II Is con
s,d-r-d better tu put til. manure GU the
alfalfa aud ploV under together aud
then you get the benefit Of II Tor two
years. Many farmers attribute III. ,cab
10 the manure IN the soil. but the Pop
ular opinion i. that II ~ n benefit 10 the
ground provided IL Is we'll rott-d. Com
tu-rciaI fertilizer. arr considered too ~
pen.,ye aud are not used '-r! much
IL Greeley, more Walking plo~- are
a--d than III. riding plo~-. The. Use =
plos With broad shears that hav. long
Join,. They Us. more john Deere
ploxs than All, other make. A. soon n
the ground is broken. b-gin 10 harrow It
SD It Is very important ~ have The
ground N-ii puiscrit-d: that Is, have Il
-nopth aud even With no holes IN u aud
all the lump broken up. Sonrtini'-'
after heavy rain that bak.> the ground