The daily sentinel., 1908-04-21
>NFWIUM


The typical example of this pros
perity is found at the ranch of w. B
Cross. midway between Pa1isade anc
Grand Junction. Here are 240 acres
with over %, 900 trees. Grand val
! ley people point to il as the mos
magnificent ranch on the slope and
delight in describing the many fea.
country compshrdluetaoshr
lures. The house is a model oi
country completeness and beauty
while the orchard would do credit to
a well-kept city lawn 1t is beauti-
full to behold and from the top of the
ranch house. the valley for miles IN
every direction is one of the magni-
ficent pictures of Colorado's varied
scenery. Towering peaks on every
side, with the stately Mount Garfield
in the distance and this wide ex-
/ panse of blooming shrubbery, the
Cross ranch gives the ideal view OF
Grand valley life. About 80 yards
from the house is the summer home,
a perfectly appointed bungalow,
where one may escape the blistering G
heat of summer. When the ther-
mometer reaches 100 at the ranch
house. Mr.. Cross enjoys a tempera-
ture of 20 in his summer home,
where hammocks, porch chairs and
tastefully decorated walls lend to
comfort and enjoyment.
The lowest estimate given by
Grand valley fruit experts is that
Cross will be able to clear $175.000
a year after his trees have attained
their growth. This spot alone is
worth a trip to Grand valley and the
hospitality of the owner is typical
of that found throughout the West.
n1a he far q N M
ment than showing a visitor around
THE doun1ry and their enthusiasm
over this years prospects knows no
bounds.
Last year a heavy frost March IS
destroyed 60 per cent of the crop.
Climatic conditions for this seasons
yield have been perfect up to this
time and all fear of failure has dis
appeared. Another week will place
the Grand valley orchards beyond
the reach of frost and even if It
should come, the farmers are pre-
pared. The smudge system is well
known and has met with quite good
success. 1t consists in burning wet
straw, stable manure or any sub
stance of like nature, producing a
dense, vapor-laden smoke, which
forms almost perfect screen above
this method gives to the fruit grower
needs no explanation as frost is his
worst enemy. Two or three degrees
of cold can work thousands of dol
lars In damage. This could be avert
ed by raising the temperature four
or five degrees on frosty nights and
experiments are being made in Grand
valley to bring about that result. Re-
Gently F. E. Whitcombe. representing
the Frost Prevention company of
Fresno, CAL, gave demonstration
at the 10-acre orchard of A. G. New
ton on Fruit Ridge, one mile from
Grand Junction, and the showing
was considered remarkable. Thirty
eight pots, filled with crude oil, were
placed on a little less than an acre
of land. They were lighted at S:15
in the evening and the temperature
taken at intervals of is minutes.
For one hour and half the temper
ature was held in all points of the
orchard from four to 10 degrees diff
ferent than what it was ordinarily at
other points.
Railroads Engaged on Plans for
Handling the Great Crops
Returning to this years crop, the
railroads are working out their plans
for handling the output. The Mid
land has arranged for 5000 cars
and, together with the Rio Grande,
expects to carry over $5,OOO,OO
worth of fruit from the Grand valley
district. Prices will be higher than
on fruit from other sections, due to
excellent quality and besides, Grand
valley fruits are leaders as keep
ers." Winesaps and Jonathans will
show an advance of over 80 per cent
The combined influence of soil prop
critics, moisture at exactly the right
times, abundant sunshine and noun
tain atmosphere give the fruit that
texture, flavor and color for which
they are famous. In New York city,
Grand valley apples sell per bushel
for what the hest New York apples
bring per barrel. In every state and
far into the recesses of foreign coun-
tries. Grand valley fruit is found on
the table, a delicacy in fact as well
as named This year it will reach
into still new territory and that all
records for the valley will be broken
is conceded. The farmers hesitate
to make an estimate, as the outlook
exceeds their widest hopes.
Grand valley is natural home for
the apple, peach, pear, apricot, plum.
cherry and grape-in fact, all the
standard fruits and berries. With
the weather conditions SO nearly in
his control, the farmer is enabled to
plan for the future with more ac-
curacy than the producer of any
Eastern agricultural region and he
knows that his fruit, holding its