Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-11-06
Profitable, Impor-
tant and Increas-
ing Crop
1000 ACRES IN ONE RANCH
Oscar c. Snow Details Inter-
esting Experience Dona
Ana County Pfospering

Oscar G. Snow. one of the most sue
cessful farmers in the Southwest, and
who owns finely improved ranch
property about one and one-half miles
west Of Mesllla Park, has spent the
past few days in Santa Fe attending
the sessions of the Territorial Board
Of Water Commissioners of which he
is member. Mr.. Snow has had over
twenty years experience in farming
by irrigation In the Mesilla valley, has
made thorough study of the matter
and has been very successful. He is
the owner Of thousand acres of fine
land which he is managing as an alfal.
ia farm.
Mr.. Snow has GOO acres in alfalfa
now and will place the remainder in
the same crop during the coming
spring Even with the uncertain water
supply In the Mesilla ditch systems up
to last year by careful attention and
the right kind of work he has been
able to cut four crops a year averag.
Ing from four to five tons per acre.
With permanent and ample water
supply secured to the Dona Ana, Las
Cruces and Mesilla bitches by the
construction by the U. s. Reclamation
service Of the Leasburg diversion dam
and by judicious use of the water sup.
ply for irrigation he thinks that from
next year on he will be able to aver
age six tons of alfalfa to the acre.
Finds Ready Market For Crop.
No trouble at all is experienced by
Mr.. Snow in marketing his product
which is shipped and disposed Of in
the mining camps Of Grant county and
especially at Silver City, Hanover and
Fferro. This year he shipped nearly
200 car loads of alfalfa to those points,
the major portion Of this being his
own crop and the remainder obtained
by purchase. He finds this market very
steady and profitable. The minimum
average rate for alfalfa per ton for
the past two or three years has been
$12 and during the winter season it
climbs up higher. The alfalfa crop in
the Mesilla valley from Chamberino
south, goes mostly to Ell Paso. Wheat
raising which for many years was a
principal industry in the valley has
had backset and the farmers have
gone mostly into alfalfa which has
been found to be more profitable.
'The large fruit orchards and vine
yards In the valley have disappeared
and small orchards and vineyards
have taken their place." said Mr..
Snow. "The fruit crop during the past
season has been failure owing to
late frosts. This does not happen
often. The fruit production is grow.
ing constantly. Canteloupes have be-
come leading feature and next year
lare areas will be planted with canta
loupes. Lyon Brothers of Chicago who
are livestock dealers, will handle the
cantaloupe crop next year and will be-
come largely interested. The seed will
be furnished by them to the Mesilla
valley farmers and they will look after
the trade carefully in order to give
the best results to the farmers and to
obtain profits for themselves. 1t
is believed that with proper seed and
the right kind Of cultivation the Mesll-
la valley cantaloupes can be made very
popular and profitable and in the Chi
cago market.
Bee Raising Important Industry.
"Bee raising is becoming very i'm
portant industry and Is found to pay
we'll. young man who came to the
valley but few years ago, Orrick
Metcalf, purchased three hundred
stands of bees last year and sold dur
ing the past season over $1,000 worth
OF honey from the hives. J. W. Harris
who purchased the stands owned for
many years by W. S. Sherfey, and Met
calf and Parks are now buying all the
small stands of bees in the valley in
order to effect combination Of bee
raisers. The luxuriant and abundant
vegetation in the valley gives the bees
plenty of substantial subsistence and
makes plenty Of honey.
while there has been and is today
no boom agricultural land under ir-
rigation has appreciated very much In
value. Lands that could have been
bought for $26 to $50 per acre three
years ago are now selling at from $100
$3.50 and higher Many well to do peo-
pie have come into the valley and
have purchased small tracts for homes
and for gardens. Our county seat Las
Cruces Is showing substantial growth.
Many improvements are going on
steadily. Our public school system Is
In very satisfactory condition, Dona
y a