The Delta independent., 1909-08-27
DELTA COUNTY
LEADS STATE IN
FARM PRODUCTS
Grain, Potatoes and Sugar Beets
of Finest Quality With a
Record Output.
Pueblo Chieftain ]

Pueblo Chieftain
The person who thinks that fruit
growing is the sole industry of Delta
county, and that nothing else is grown
there, will discover after days drive
through the territory that he has made
a grave mistake.
Right now it might be mentioned
that in 1907, at the state fair held in
Pueblo, Delta county was given the
first premium for the BEST general
exhibit" That means every kind of
agricultural product in the state, and
that Delta county, in competition with
every other section, took first place.
That tells the story of diversified as
well as successful agriculture.
There is great deal of land in Delta
county that is not adapted to fruit
growing. not possessing the peculiar
qualities of soil which are required in
that industry. This land is, however,
especially suited to general farming
and nowhere in the west can better
crops be raised.
RICHES IN THE FIELDS.
Many of the Delta county farmers
are growing rich in the wheat fields
Their yield averages fifty bushels to
the acre and is of high quality. 1t
finds ready market, as there is mill
at Delta which takes large part of
the supply and the balance is easily
disposed of in the adjoining towns.
Oats produce on an average eighty
five bushels to the acre and here, too,
the market is good, as there is a large
demand from the nearby mining towns.
Good prices are paid and there is
large demand.
Potato growing has in many instances
proved almost as profitable as fruit
raising and is preferred by some farm
ers, as they do not have to wait as long
for results, and their crop does not
have to be as carefully watched as does
an orchard. Often the two are profit
ably combined. Experts now say that,
especially while the trees are young, it
is advisable to have a hoed crop planted
in an orchard. 1t not only protects the
trees from the sun, but also conserves
qualities in the soil which go to main
tain its fertility.
The Delta county farmer grows on
an average 400 bushels of potatoes to
the acre. You can take out your slate
and figure for yourself what that
nj - hot fat
acres will provide tidy little sum for
your bank account at the end of the
year. Greeley potatoes are recognized
as standard, not only in Colorado but
throughout the country, nevertheless it
is fact that Delta county potatoes
bring a higher price on the Chicago
market, and that is saying much as the
potatoes from northern Colorado are of
exceedingly high quality.
ONE HUNDRED BEETs TO TON.
What do you think of raising sugar
beets, 100 of which make ton? That
is exactly what has been done on
Delta county ranch, where the average
yield is from fifteen to thirty tons to
the acre. The acreage is now so large,
and will be so greatly increased by the
land that obtains ,sater from the Gun
nison tunnel, that it is only question
of short time before sugar beet fac
tory will be built in Delta county to
handle the product. At present the
beets are shipped TO the Grand Junction
factory, which takes all the farmers
can produce and pays $5 per ton in
cash.
Alfalfa hay is another crop that
proves remunerative to the farmer.
Large numbers of cattle that Craze in
summer on the mesas in the county are
brought down to the valley for the
winter, when feed is in demand and
brings high prices. The hay averages
not less than five tons to the acre and
the farmer is assured of three cuttings
each year. Moreover it has been shown
that alfalfa is of great advantage to
the soil as a fertilizer and many farm
ers use it to enrich their land.