The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-01-01


Die should till the soil and engage in
AGRICULTURAL pursuits instead OF seeking
the elusive, hidden gods of the hills
ana mountains, agriculture has re-
Ceived more attention in this state than
all other industries combined. Agricul-
lure has always been the sIowest of in
oustries, as well as the oldest and most
fundamental Especially is this true IN
Utah In this state it has been followed
very largely by men unframed for the
work, who had no sympathy with the
soil, men from the large, crowded
manufacturing centers of EurOps, who
followed agriculture here because there
was nothing else 10 do. The new gen
Grafton of Utah farmers, however. are
awake and they have swung into the
march of progress. which is character
1zing agriculture everywhere, at no un-
certain gait.
There are still many farmers who
plant their potatoes '1n the moon"
many farmers who raise cattle with the
hollow horn" who think that grass
hoppers and codling moths and smutty
wheat are 'Providential Tribulations''
70 be patiently endured, but the great
mass Of Utah farmers today are read
ing. progressive. business-like, profess
sional men who see in agriculture the
need or intelligent, persistent enthu-
5lastlc effort and who are giving to
their profession the best that is in
them. 1t is to the efforts of these men
Utah has come.
Until very recently the farmers in
this region have not been awake to the
immense possibilities Of agriculture
here, and Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming,
anG some parts of Canada have been
settled by the young men, the life and
blood Of this state and the develop
ment of those regions has been made at
the expense of the development of the
agricultural resources OF our own
state.
The Past Year.
The past year has been one of un-
preCedented prosperity in all lines of
agricultural effort. The dry farms have
yielded abundantly, and the heavy
storms of last winter have furnished
a continuous and abundant supply of
water for the irrigated farms, thus
insuring maximum yields. The yield
of hay, grain, sugar beets, lucern seed,
and other agricultural products. was
never better and the prices as a rule
have been very satisfactory.
The lucern crop has exceeded that of
any previous year and there was such
an enormous production of this crop
that the market was "glutted." This
Is a fortunate condition for many far
mers are feeding their lucern this Win
ter instead of selling it-a very desir-
able innovation. and one worthy of
emulation by all lucern growers. Luz
This year, the average yield being near
six bushels per acre and the price be-
ing on the average about IA cents per
pound.
In the production of wheat, corn,
oats. barley and rye. the year just past
has been an exceptional one. Some
considerable quantities of wheat were
frosted in the northern part of the
state, but as this will be fed and as its
feeding quality is equal to that of the
unfrOSted wheat, there Will be little loss
IN this direction. The yields were high
and good prices have obtained. There
Is gradual improvement in the Varie-
tbs grown and a disposition manifest
I'd towards securing improved varieties
and by careful selection, raise the
standard of the quality of crops grown.
White wheatS were long in favor, but
both grower and miller are coming to
realize that a superior grade of flour
can be made from the small, hard, red
wheats during the past year. These
wheats have been in greater demand
than ever before. Corn growing is be-
coming more popular each year and
during this year the average yield has
been better than for years past. None
Of the western states begins to COM
pare in average yield, our average (33.2
bushels of Shelled corn per acre. being
Is bushels better than Colorado and 1
bushels better than Arizona. AS our
arid lands are developed. there is no
GOuBl tAldL the average OF COIIl VIII De
greatly increased and the two great
stock feeds alfalfa and corn. viii make
OF Utah famous stock feeding center
Hay
1t is in the production of hay that
Utah eXcelS. the average yield for the
past year being 3.54 tons per acre. No
state in the union compares with this
and it is in this fact that many people
base their assertion that Utah is des-
tined to become the greatest dairying
state in the union.
Horticulture.
Leading horticulturists tell US that
the past year has been an unusually
successful one in fruit production.
Ninety-fOur represents the apple pro-
ductinn as compared with a full crop
In 1903 the apple production was only
IS per cent of full crop and in 1902
but 81 per cent. However, Utah apples
were wOrmy this year: in fact, this has
been about the worst year for the apple
grower, in his fight with the cooling
moth, that the state has ever known.
This seems strange in view of the
excellent help rendered the fruit grow
er by Prof. Ball of the Utah Expert
ment station and the state board of
horticulture.
The peach crop excelled all expecta-
tions and tons of beautiful we'll fla
Vored peaches TOtted on the ground be-
cause of the failure of the grower to
provide shipping cases in advance.
Many carloads of Utah peaches were
sent to Omaha, Kansas City, St. Louis,
and Chicago and the returns netted the
owners a very handsome profit.
The people of the state have not as
Yet begun TO dream of their hOrtfcul-
tural possibilities. The soil, climatic
conditions and marketing facilities ali
proclaim this TO be a wonderful horti-
cultural section, when once the farmer
realizes that land under irrigation,
worth $3.50 per acre, is too valuable to
grow fifty per cent wheat.
Some apple growers in this state have
realized $500 an acre from their apple
crop this year. In the growing Of ap-
pies. pears. peaches, cherries, raspber-
lies, grapes, Strawberries, etc. it is
possible to realize hundreds of dollars
from a single acre. and there is here
then, a practical solution for the prob
lem of increasing Utah's population an
hundred fold.
The Sugar Beet Industry.
All Of the sugar factories report a
very prosperous year among the beet
growers Notwithstanding the discour-
aging prospects early in the season the
tonnage was very satisfactory. Almost
without exception beet growers
throughout the state are well pleased