Graham guardian., 1910-11-18
RATES OF LRGAL ADVERTISING
NOVEMBER IS, 1910.
MORE FARM PRODUCTS

MORE FARM PRODUCTS
The shipment this week Of bar
rel of sweet potatoes, grown in the
Gila valley. to the Waldorf Astoria
Hotel, New York City, brings forci-
bly, to mind the farming industry of
the valley.
There is no more fertile land any
where in Arizona than is found
right here in our beautiful valley.
Yet we realize that our farmers do
not take the deep interest manifest
in other parts of the country to cul-
tivate the soil for all the crops it
might bear.
There is too much time and too
much land given to raising alfalfa
for hay alone. 1t would be better
for our farmers if they would de-
vote more of their land to growing
vegetables, not only to supply the
outside markets, but the home mar
ket as well.
The raising of hogs is an industry
that can be carried on successfully
by every farmer in the valley and
profitably so, when one considers
the high price of bacon in the mar
ket today.
It seems ridiculous to one living
in a farming community to see a
farmer coming into town to pur-
chase vegetables of all kinds which
have to be brought in from Cali
fornia and Texas. when better veg
etables can be grown here and
enough to supply the demand.
1t would seem that our farmers
are alfalfa mad;" that they care
for no other crop except the hay
crop. and confne their work on the
farm, almost exclusively to the rails
ing of alfalfa. neglecting the cult
vation of vegetables and fruits and
the raising of hogs and dairy cattle.
In consequence Of this, our farm
ers buy their bacon at the store in
town, paying 40 cents pound,
which could be produced cheaper
on their own farm and much bet
ter product than that secured from
Kansas City and Chicago.
It is time that our farmers should
seriously consider new farming
methods; that more land should be
devoted to raising corn, wheat, bar
ley and vegetables, and to set out
more orchards and give them better
care and closer attention. in order
to make successful crops. 1t can
be done and yet leave sufficient land
for alfalfa.
When our farmers take hold and
produce everything they want, they
will find that their surplus crops
will bring good prices in other mar
kets, and in a general way they will
realize better prices for their great
er variety of farm products than
they do now for their one crop of
alfalfa hay alone. 1t matters not
that alfalfa is easy to raise; that
five or six crops can be secured.
The fact is we neglect what we |
most want, what we absolutely need,
for the thing that is easier to be |
grown, and when vegetables are
needed. when ham, bacon and lard
are sought for to supply the daily
meal, they learn that the high prices
that obtain for these necessities just
about takes all the profit from the |
hay crop and the farmer is no fur
ther advanced at the end of the sea.
son than when he began.
The cultivation of vegetables and
fruits on larger scale on every
farm in this valley, would soon
bring about great changes, and
farm improvements would be of a
more permanent nature.
New industries could be started
and markets easily secured for all
the surplus products of the valley
farm. The community would be
setter off in many ways and there}
would be bank accounts showing