The daily sentinel., 1909-12-08
LOCAL GROWERS
CAN ANSWER It

How can one make a living on a
small tract of land Men who have
made living for good-sized family
and saved money besides on 5- and
l0-acre orchard tracts in this valley
should be able TO easily answer this
question.
This question is earnestly asked by
two classes of people who, on account
of falling health or uncongenial sur
roundings and employment, are anx
ious to try II. and desire 10 invest
their earnings in land that they may
eventually make living from II.
For such, plenty of advice is found
in the land booming real estate lit
erature, for the alluring accounts of
the large sums of money realized
from small areas are sure to attract
a person in necessity; especially SO
when the claims and figures are
backed by the most convincing proof
the personal testimonials from the
men who have actually secured the
results.
The fact that it has required an
equipment of perhaps years of train
ing and experience Is not mentioned,
or that the condition of soil fertility
was ideal. or that specially favorable
climatic and market conditions pre-
vailed which made the returns posi-
BILE. These points are kept in the
background and the items of cost
| and expense are seldom deducted or
even mentioned.
Another class of people are asking
the same question-those who have
/ tried 1t, honest, hard working men
and women, who have lacked the
necessary resources. experience and
favorable OPT ortuLities to make
| good. " 1t is unfortunate that so
much misleading information is sent
out. for reaction is sure to follow.
Hardly mail comes to the Colo
RADIO Agricultural College and Ex-
pertinent Station that does not con-
tain letters of inquiry upon the es-
sence of this question-informati
| which in many cases il is impossible
to furnish in a way that will be sat
isfactory to the inquirer. for SO much
! depends upon the local conditions
! and the ability of the man TO cope
with obstacles
There is no question about the
| right kind of men in the right kind
of surroundings making good living
on small tract in truck farming,
| poultry, and fruit. Every experience
! Nu man hhO lhdl MANY ihl
are failures; that is, the 10 and D.
acre farms devoted to field crops,
! like grain, beets, potatoes or cantal-
oupes. For few years there may
| be bountiful returns, but eventually
rotation with alfalfa is necessary,
and then there must be other re-
sources for the farmer, because his
small area seeded to alfalfa will not
afford him a living
| A practical farmer recently re
marked that "a man can buy forty
acres of land at $3.50 an acre, and
come nearer making it pay out than
If he bought ten acres at the same
price" The profits from the ten
acres Will be entirely consumed by
necessary expenses, and with no force
in reserve; while the forty-acre farm
er will have chance TO make some
profits above expenses. 1t is diff
cult to say how small farm can be
profitably rotated. Much depends
upon the crops and the local condi-
tions. One thing is evident from the
experience Of the past; that to keep
up the fertility 1t will require about
as much land in alfalfa all the time
as there is land planted TO other
crops. Probably from twenty-five to
forty acres should be the minimum
farm in Colorado outside the fruit
and truck farming sections. Those
that contemplate going onto small
tract should understand that there
are many elements to consider before
making a choice. Soil. climate, wa
ter, markets. labor, insects. plant
diseases. and many minor points, be-
sides experience and persistence.
PHILO X. BLINN,
Colorado Agricultural College, Fort
/ Collins