Imperial Valley press and the Imperial press., 1906-03-24

the third crop was still in prime condi- ton at Christmas. This enables the Imperial Valley grape grower to get in- to the market a month ahead of all com petitors and stay in six weeks after the rest are all out.
 Is that a good stock country?
 Yes, indeed. It produces alfalfa so bountifully that both cattle and hog raising is extremely profitable.
 How do you handle cattle to best ad- vantage?
 In the dairy business. The most profitable way is to run as many dairy COWS as your alfalfa will carry, separate the cream and sell it to the creamery, and keep enough pigs to consume the skim milk. It has been found that we'll cared for ranch will produce as much in hogs as it will in cream.
 How much does dairy COW produce per month?
 The averaga income per COW is about six dollars per month for the cream, though some cows produce twice this amount.
 How many COWS per acre will alfalfa support?
 Alfalfa would doubtless support two COWS per acre, the year round, but as it is more profitable to keep hogs as well as COWS on our dairies, the proportion is generally about one COW and five pigs, per acre.
 How much do you get for fat cattle on foot. and how much for hogs?
 Cattle about 1-2 to cents per'pound, hogs from 1-2 to cents per pound.
 Do the dairymen have to feed any other feed than alfalfa?
 No, except when they are finishing the hogs for market they feed them grain.
 Is hog raising alone profitable bus mess?
 Yes, indeed. It is fully as profitable as any that has yet been developed. Hogs thrive excellently on alfalfa, prac- tically the year round. No hog cholera or other disease bas ever attacked them, they multiply rapidly, fatten easily and bring big prices.
 What profits could one reasonably ex- pect from hog raising?
 Large profits. MT. A. L. Loffer of Imperial, bought 20 sows for $500 in No vember 1904, has sold $2S00 worth of hogs, and has 300 head left. from their increase in Is months. Many others have done better than this.
 How much feed does alfalfa produce per acre, per year?
 If cut for hay, at least ten tons; if pastured, very much more.
 Does having pay?
 Yes, but not as we'll as pasturing with hogs or dairy COWS, unless one is close to town.
 What opportunities are offered for a man with only few hundred...d dollars?
 He could buy piece of land and pay part down on it, and set into improve it as best he could, or he could rent or lease farm already in cultivation on very favorable terms.
 What is land renting for?
 Various amounts. Raw land is let out for from two to five years for putting it into alfalfa. One man with a large alfalfa ranch furnishes everything, feed, cows, hogs, and everything and gives his tenant one-half of the income for taking care of them. Another tenant has 200 acre alfalfa ranch rented and makes 1000 a year, above expenses.
 What can one do with from 5000 to $2O,OOO?
 He can buy the best land in the Unit ed States, and with the best water right, at such figures as will quickly double his money. After he gets it, The can rent it out so that it will pay him 25 per cent on his investment.
 Is that healthy country?
 It certainly is. Since it's first settle- ment there has only been 27 deaths in this Valley. The population would av- craze at least 5000 for the l-2 years or 26,000 for one year. That is only one death to ,000 people, per year.