Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-06-25


A study of the situation along tine
river. regarding the points of over |
flow might result in the discovery
that 1t will not cost mucn money to
build walls which will protect much
of the land which has suffered this
season.
There appear to be but few plac.
es that need these walls. tIa. one
point of overflow causes several
tracts to be flooded.
Probably the greatest interest in
the upper valley at this time will be
found in the prospect for the years
crops. While the first cutting OF al
falfa is delayed, there will lie two
good cuttings and the last viii like
ly be the best.
The orchards look good and a big
Weld may be depended upon. The
different sections of the valley have
so many different results, and vary
so mucn from one season to another,
the horticulturists must find a study
OF the situation. Inferior nursery
stock much of it as special features
sold at fancy prices, has done much
10 retard the progress of fruit grow
ing. The growers tell you of many
abuses of confidence which have oc-
cured from year to year.
More acres are going to fruit each
year and the apple is taking its place
as money maker. Peculiar and
varied climatic conditions appear to
have something to do with results.
The ranch OF r. A. Kerr. known all
over Colorado and the West for its
splendid production OF so many
kinds of apples, is regarded as being
more favored by climatic conditions
Than any other part of the valley.
Whatever is found here, vine o.
tree, is a success. Probably no other
-anch of varied production in the
is that OF Mr.. Kerr. the other day
here We're ten or a dozen people
gathering strawberries for shipment
o Durango and Silverton. Since the
season began Mr. Kerr has shipped
rom "a to 80 crates of berries daily
receiving in the beginning 81 a crate.
In the orchards there are several
strips of strawberry vines; when the
piclers have finished on one strip
the water is turned in, irrigating be-
tween the rows. and eacn patch alter
nately is picked and watered. The
land is adyantageously situated for
practical irrigation, and wherever
there was some obstacle it was al
once overcome, You may stand there
and see the water shifted from one
patch to another as rapidly as you
would touch the keys of a typewriter
)r the hello girl would change the
pegs on the phone board. Mr.. Kerrs
ranch is one of the most attractive
scenes we have. During the greater
part OF the year his home houses and
cares for as many people as the av-
erage hotel.
j. s. d. Hopkins is improving his
200 or more ocres and bringing il
into much better state of produc
tlon. He will enlarge mis- orchards
and introduce new features. He was
fighting foXtail the other day, pulling
mp by the root and feeding it to the
hogs before it could ripen to seed
This pest is carried by the irrigatine
iitches. Dandelions and clover, too
are carried by the bitches and the
mn
annoyance to the farmer.
Andrew j. Buchanan has the old
Dudley homestead in splendid state
of cultivation. The orchards are
looking fine and will have big yield
The Fillmore Hand place is among
the prettiest up there, the residence
being one of the most attractive in
the country. This will be one of the
| productive fruit ranches when the
young orchards begin to bear
The ranches of A. NJ. Irish. F. D
Bovee, L. p. Sanity, ]. w. Mccoy
Fred C. Carbis and E. V. Campbell
all are making progress in the produc
tion of fruits. On the east side OF
the river the ranches OF F. w Kroe
ger. Mr.. Knowlton, Ollie Tow. JacE
| Turner. w. T. Chitwood. Mr. Nc
| Cav, Mr., Vine, Mr.. Burnett, Mrs
Sleeth and the Mccormick brothers
| are all assured of big crops.
Improvement is notable all up and
down the line everywhere Many
new houses have been built during
the past few years. New and sub
stantial fences are noticed on both
sides of the river and there are many
improvements in barns, granaries
and outbuildings.
Joe Freed wno has 200 acres on the
river has decided to sell half of his
tract and put in big orhcard, much
of which will be seedless apple. Many
OF the Animas valley people are going
to add this new feature to their or.
chards.
The farmers are expecting to get a
higher price this fall for hay, having
learned that there probably will be
but two cuttings in the New Mexico
sections this season.
Mccormick brothers have fine
,,f int