Imperial Valley press and the Imperial press., 1907-03-16
The Imperial Valley is now Putting Forth Long Delayed Efforts to Enlighten the Outside World Regarding its Re- sources and Great Possibilities


 acres in all. Water is supplied from the Colorado river and distributed to the users by mutual water com mpanies in which every water user must own stock. Title to the lands is obtained from the United States under the public land laws and consequently is absolute and questionable. The price of land varies from about $25 co per acre for unim- proved land with water right up to as high as $l00.00 per acre for highly im- proved alfalfa farms and choice canta- loupe lands close to towns. Crops grown are alfalfa in greatest perfection, all the grains and vegetables, cantaloupes, mel ons, grapes, berries, fruits, and, in short, everything that will thrive in a semi tropical climate. Alfalfa grows all the year round and hogs and dairy cattle pasture on it and thrive at all seasons. That kind of farming is very attractive and profita ble, as it enables the farmer to utilize larger number of acres with " Q 'NA "hiOOhO Ol ldDOI OO RL CdDCl vantage than in any other manner. The most profitable farms are of this kind and Imperial valley porkers bring top notch prices in the Los Angeles market. Seven and half cents per pound gross for live hogs is the ruling price at pres- ent and buyers are offering to contract at seven cents for all the hogs that can be delivered during the year. The hog raising business is as profitable as any that has yet been developed. No chol- era has ever attacked them, they multi ply rapidly, fatten easily and bring big prices. In addition to the hogs that are produced on such farm, the dairy bus mess is very profitable. The average income per COW is about six dollars per month for the cream, where tn milk is separated and the cream sold. It has been found that good alfalfa farm run to COWS and hogs will produce about equal values in cream and hogs. Barley farming is giving place to alfalfa grow ing and will doubtless be thing of the past i'll short time. Next in import ance to alfalfa and dairy and hog farm ing is cantaloupe growing. For the maL of small means this offers an exceptional opening, as few acres is all one man can care for; the entire operation is com pleted in about five months and the profits are large. The first cantaloupes grown in this valley were at Brawley in 1905; 29 carloads were shipped and successful beginning made, most of the growers netting $lO0OO per acre for their crop. Last years shipment from the valley aggregated more than $50 carloads and the returns were fully as satisfactory. This season will far out strip any past one, the growers have contracted their melons in advance and it is estimated the output will reach one thousand carloads.
 In addition to these leading crops for age growing and cattle feeding is large industry and one firm has made a great success with sheep. Poultry and espec- tally turkey raising is very profitable and is being successfully conducted by quite number in the valley. Bee keep ing is beginning to receive attention, experienced bee men declaring the val ley to possess exceptional advantages for their line of business. The growing of all varieties of fruits and grapes and the culture of asparagus and like prod urts has passed the experimental stage and i'll each case success has been achieved. About 800 acres of early ta- ble grapes have been set out this season and many thousands more will be plant ed next year. When in bearing these grapes will be ready for the market as early as May and will bring fancy prices. Last year the crop from one acre of Mall aga grapes grown in this climate brought $l750 net to the grower. Asparagus reaches marketable condition here early in February, being the earliest in the United States. This guarantees top prices. The growing of winter veget- ables will receive great deal of atten- tion and will pay we'll for all care be- stOw ad unOn tham The wintarS ara SO