The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-09-03
A SURE THING VS..
DOUBTFUL FARMING

for the Pecos Valley, and it is enti-
tiled to be called Gods country as
mucn as any other place. If those who
are not in good health would only
come here in time they would realize
the fact; clear, pure air and bright
sunshine nearly every day in the year.
1 will try to give few facts and
figures, showing the situation of the
tSure Thing" and doubtful farmer.
Will take 40 acres as a basis.
The 40 acre doubtful farmer has to
depend on crop of winter wheat or
some of the drought resisting corns.
will allow him the benefit of doubt
and give him four crops in six years.
1t is doubtful if this can be accom-
plished, largely depends on the man.
Forty acres of wheat, 20 bushels per
acre, or 40 acres of corn, 80 bushels
per acre, will realize for him about
5000 for each crop or a total of $2,400
cannot indulge in any fruit trees or
alfalfa or any crop that requires con
siderable moisture while growing.
The Sure Thing farmer. or the man
with water, can raise five crops in
six years, as he should take the first
year to get his land in good shape
and get the wild nature out of it, Then
he can put 20 acres il alfalfa, which
will make at least four tons per acre
each year, or it will net him about
$25 per acre, as prices have ranged
in the past. He can then plant 90 ac-
res in apples, which increase in value
each year $4,000 an acre for five years
when the orchard begins bearing. and
it will then pay 25 to 40 per cent on
valuation of $4,000 per acre.
These figures can be verified by
any man who will give attention to
his business; but let me tell you some
thing else: There is greater contrast
climates. Wherever | have lived, |
have seen men make a failure of farm
ing. Another man would get the same
farm and make success. You will
notice that l have used the word
doubtful in place of dry farmer. be-
cause it is more appropriate, as there
is no such thing as dry farming. Sta
tistics from the old settled countries
that have large dry areas show that
the rainfall has not varied much since
the first statistics were taken.
AS regards house accommodation.
the doubtful and sure-th.ng farmer
are on equal footing The doubtful
farmer has the cost of seed every
crop. The alfalfa is good for from IL
to Is years, then should be renewed
An apple orchard is good for % or
80 years. The Pecos Valley farmer
can have any other fruit he may wish
to grow, as well as all sorts of vege-
raising vegetables.
Here is a place where those unfor-
tunate or fortunate women who have
no husbands can make themselves
independent. For instance, they can
buy ten or twenty acres, plant one
half to good apples and the other half
in alfalfa or anything they wish and
keep poultry that will furnish the liv-
ing until the apples are bearing. They
begin bearing five years from planting
when they will yield the large red
apples peculiar to the Pecos Valley
the 40 acre doubtful farmer averages
about $4,000 year to support him
self and family. The sure-thing farm
er's 20 acres of alfalfa nets him about
$4,000 a year, his 20 acres of orchard
makes him $1,000 a year increase of
value, Or $4,000 in six years. The 40
acre doubtful farmers land has really
not increased in value any at the end
of six years, as it still remains mort
gagged with the doubt, and nothing but
a change in natures laws can remove
this sort of mortgage
l would rather nave land ia the Pc
cos Valley, with water at 10000 per
acre. than land in the doubtful belt
as a gift, if / had to make a living
on it. r. C. NISBET.