The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-08-17
FAR MING In THE
PECOS VALLEY
10 OTHER section of the United

IN States of equal area can compare
for farming, stock raising and
fruit growing with the Pecos Valley of
New Mexico. This fact is just becoming
generally known throughout the North
ern and Eastern States, but it has been
known long enough throughout the
Central States to attract large numbers
of practical farmers and stock raisers to
this section. Not only that, but has,
during recent years, drawn large num-
bers of homeseekers to other parts OF
the Southwest.
At the present the wave of immigration
is largely confined to the Pecos Valley,
the splendid resources Of which were so
well displayed at the St. Louis Worlds
Fair last year. The fruits, vegetables,
grains, grasses and other products of
the valley there entered in competition
with those of other sections, and ranked
second to none for size, quality and guam
tity. This exhibit served to spread
abroad the fame of the valley and direct
to this section thousands who were seek
ing new homes.
The average rainfall is IL inches per
annum and the average altitude is 8, 400
feet; average temperature, So degrees.
The dry and rarified atmosphere makes
the climate especially delightful and ex-
hilarating. Because of the high alti-
tude, the nights are always cool and re-
freshing, blanket being necessary for
comfort. The sun shines on an average
of $40 days in the year, which fact has
caused the valley to be christened "The
Land of Perpetual Sunshine"
Water, which is the key to successful
farming and stock raising in any section,
is here found in abundance. In that
! portion of the valley between Roswell
and Lakewood artesian wells squirting
| water from two to ten feet out of six or
eight inch pipe can be seen at any time
and as many derricks at work putting
down more wells. This alone furnishes
unimpeachable evidence of the agricul-
turial possibilities of the valley. Hun
dreds of wells flowing water sufficient to
irrigate from 100 to 800 acres are within
a radius of five miles of Artesia. A dry
hole is an unknown quantity in the val
| ley, and the fact that the wells now flow
! ing show no diminution in force is evil
dence that the supply Of water is prac-
tically inexhaustible.
The soil of the valley is deep, rich,
sandy loan, varying in depth from six to
eighteen feet, and capable Of producing
every variety of fruit, vegetable or grass
that can be grown in semitropical
climate.
The rainy season begins in June and
continues through July, in time to insure
the maturing of the early crops and ma
terially assisting the later ones. The
winter season leaves the ground in
excellent condition for early blowing
and planting, and provides sufficient
moisture to give the ranges and pastures
a good start in the spring and also pro-
viding plenty of water for stock until the
June rains begin.
The farmer and fruit grower are, how
ever, practically independent SO far as
the rain is concerned. Where irrigation
is practiced there is no fear of drouth;
water can be supplied whenever the crops
need it, and the quantity is under the
control of the person owning the land.
Fruits of all kinds are grown to per-
lection in the valley. Apples, peaches,
pears, plums, grapes, apricots, necta-
rines, currants, gooseberries, blackber-
ries, strawberries, and raspberries are
the principal ones.
Among the vegetables grown sue
cessfully are to be found sweet potatoes,
Irish potatoes, beets, cabbage, aspara-
gus, turnips, cantaloupes, squash, toma-
toes, watermelons and onions. The eel
cry growth in the valley is rapidly gain
ing an enviable reputation.
Kaffir corn, Indian corn and milo maize
are extensively grown throughout the
valley. Alfalfa is the chief forage crop.
The character Of the soil, the long grow
ing season, and the abundance of water
makes the valley especially suited to
this crop. The plant groes less rank
than in the Northern and Eastern
States, but yields four to six cuttings a
year, and four to eight tons per acre.
1t finds a ready market at from So to SIS
per ton. This is $40 to $50 per year per
acre, and that with very small outlay
for labor.
While most of the land in the valley
is held by bona fide settlers and farmers,
who expect to make this their perma-
nent home, others, for reasons only
known to themselves, will, for a figure
which offers very flattering inducements
to the homeseeker or the Spectator,
sell their rights, whether patented OF
assignments.
The Pecos Valley and Northwestern
Railway traverses the valley it's entire
length and has been the chief agent in
its development.
The principal towns in the valley are