Rocky Ford enterprise. (Rocky Ford, Colo.) 1887-1950, 1911-03-10
SOME TIMELY:
''"' ''A'Iy SUGGESTIONS
On Spring Flowing and the
Breaking of Alfalfa Sod
COMPARISONS
WITH MICHIGAN
Colorado Should Again Take the Lead
rs the Largest Beet Sugar
Producing State.

| The local sugar factory has INSTALL
ed a sugar grinder that has been CIV
en- a trial run this week. 1t takes the
usual I6-mesh sugar and makes it any
size, pulverizing it if such is. desired.
The machine will be given a thor
ough trial. and if satisfactory others
will be added, it is said.
| Through the columns of the Enter
prise Chief Agriculturist Joehnck of
the local A. b. S. Co. factory. offers
the following:
Suggestions in Breaking Alfalfa Sod.
Although it is most advisable to
break alfalfa. sod during the fall OF
the year in order to kill out the stand
| with the least work and expense, a
few practical suggestions for breaking
up alfalfa fields in early spring might
| be interesting to the inexperienced
farmer.I
In order to obtain the best results
in drying out the crowns of the al
falfa roots so they can be turned un-
der later. il is advisable to play as
early as possible, the first plowing OF
the field should be as shallow as the
plow can be operated successfully at
the same time to a sufficient depth
to insure cutting below the buds.
which ordinarily would be about } to
- inches deep. A sharp plow share
is necessary to effect thorough cutting
and frequent changes in the share is
&C economy in work and horse flesh.
Care should be exercised not to cut
to exceed IT inchcsl Of land with -
inch share in order that the cut of
each furrow is clean and no roots Civ
en- an opportunity to miss cutting.
Where plows arc constructed with
sufficient strength the mold board
may be removed. thus not turning
over the crown. leaving them better
exposed to the harrow process to fol-
low.
4 spring tooth harrow is the most
effec tive tool to bring the roots to the
| surface and exposing them to the sun.
Double narrowing is advisable and
should be repeated at an interval Of
to 10 days. according to the drying
condition of the weather.
Further suggestions on spring plow
ir- etc. will be given in these col
umns in the future.
Some Comparisons With Michigan.
Michigan last year established 4 re-
cord by stepping from third place in
to first place for beet sugar produced
in the country. putting Colorado and
California into second and third
places. Michigan last year had a
prosperous season. and the prospects
for Colorado next fall in sugar pro
| duction will hurry that state to again
| hold the first honors. Colorado has
decided increase in acreage. espe-
cially in the eastern portion and the
Arkansas valley this year. Unless
Michigan has a corresponding large
increase Colorado should again take
sugar in the United States from
bccts.
The record that Colorado has done
| and made in sugar production has
done more. probably to establish it
| agriculturally in comparing It to the
eastern states, than any other crop.
and Colorado is recognized now as
the home of intensive farming. The
eastern states are contcntcd because
they have to be. in having the corn
and small grain crops remain staple.
but with the factories to receive the
bcets in Colorado the possibilities for
larger profits per acre are here. There
fore the agricultural gain of Colo
RADIO.
A Michigan farm magazine not long
ago reproduced list of beet grow
ers of prosperous section there
showing the amazing returns from
their bcets. The list in comparing it
to Arkansas valley farmers and grow
crs shows that our growers have the
edge by about fifty per cent on the
| Michigan growers in amount received
per acre. The contract prices here
are very much higher and the pro-
duction per acre compares favorably
with Michigan.
Many farmers, whose names were
at the top of the Michigan list receiv-
ed about $50 an acre from beets. the
leaders. Arkansas valley leaders in
beet culture. especially in the Rocky
Ford district. find that SIPS is fig
ure that can be hit, and was last sea-
son. and with the advance in prices
this year that can be increased TWEEN
ty pei cent at least. Michigan farm
crs arc more than satisfied with their
returns. because even an $50 an acre
return for middle western state is
large. much larger in fact than can
be received from any other crop.
Therefore an Arkansas valley farmer
must be exceptionally lucky to re-
ceive fft.' per cent more for the same
| crop.
When it is considered that a Mich
igan corn raiser receives just the same
as a Colorado corn raiser for his crop
and a Colorado farmer does not make
a cent more per bushel for wheat than
the Minnesotan. then the fact that
the beet crop is paying better here