Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-12-13
RUN $3.50 PER ACRE.

Thirty-two and four-ffteenths tons
Of beets per acre!
What do you think OF that?
Impossible, you say?
Not for the North Fork.
John NJ. Smith did Il this fall on a
piece of land within less than half
mile of the Hotchkiss postoffice.
The land was measured and the
beets were carefully weighed and the
returns given to Mr.. Smith as above.
The amount earned by each acre in
this tract was little over $3.50. This
is pretty good for common crop
like sugar beets.
Mr.. Smith has another small field.
which he is certain will give returns
of at least 35 tons to the acre. 1t
looks better than the other field and
he is sure the yield will be at least
three tons better
The beets on these fields are re-
markable for their even size. They
are all very large and show that the
rich bottom lands are the very place
where the plant can attain its best
size and greatest per cent of sugar
The big beets come ont clean and
make load which is good TO see.
Mr.. Smith did not give the fields any
more than ordinary care which every
prudent farmer gives to every crop
which he expects to reward him for
the seasons work. He tended 1t care
fully and kept it free from weeds and
put the. water on right. The rewards
have been far beyond his expecta.
tions. During the summer he often
said that he expected to have little
better crop than the ordinary, but he
never dreamed that such phenom-
enal yield would result.
This just shows what the North
Fork is capable of doing.
We are ready to assert that this
will in all probability be the largest
yield per acre of any field of which
Colorado will make record this year.
We are sure because we do not know
another place In the state which COM
bines all the advantages which the
North Fork holds for the successful
production of the largest beets and
the best yield in the world.
If the people of the East should
have yield per acre like that for
any of their crops and should be able
to take in so much money, they would
rush into print with it and have a di-
lirium OF joy over the prospects of
being rich within a few years. But
here in the North Fork our big yield
OF fruit has blinded us to the thought
that $l6O per acre is tremendous re-
turn. We can realize that If such
thing were possible in dozens of the
states that the valuation of the coun-
try would Immediately double. But
here the announcement will be receiv-
without comment and will be forgot
ten in few days.
The beet fields of Mr.. Smiths are
not the only ones which will be able
tc report an immense yield. G. w.
Mackey. south of town, will also be
able TO make good showing for him
self. 1t will be remembered that last
year Mr.. Mackey took the top place
with yield of $3.50 per acre for a
small patch. But even his great sue
cess must take back seat.
We think that this year has proven
to the people of the North Fork that,
rightly conducted, the beet industry
is the great one for lands not partic-
ularly adapted 10 fruit culture. The
bottom lands. thousands of acres of
them, are best for beets. and there is
not the least doubt but that next year
the acreage will be greatly increas-
ed. The past years have been in the
nature of an experiment for many, but
now the yield is assured when the
rancher works his crop right, and the
acreage will he steadily increased ev.
cry year.
The coming season will show prob
ably 100 per cent increase in the num-
Der OF acres of land devoted to this
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Times.