El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-03-13

Las Cruces, n. NJ. March 13.-That
the Mesilla valley is destined to be-
come one of the great fruit sections
OF the southwest is believed an as
sured fact. Alfalfa fields in the val
ley are gradually giving away TO fruit
and higher priced crops.
Less than -FOUR years ago Dr. w y.
Field secured 126 acres OF valley land
with the intention Of gradually setting
out one Of the largest pear orchards
in the valley The first development
consisted Of Is acres set out two years
ago. These trees have done better
than was expected and the healthy
growth has shown the owner that this
valley has the ideal soil and climate
for fruit.
This season there viii be $500 more
pear trees added to the orchard, part
Of these viii be set out in the nur-
sery where they viii remain for next
years planting, and the balance VIII
be used to replace alfalfa that Will be
ploWed under and thus enrich the
ground and make the land much more
valuable. When the entire $500 trees
are in the orchard by the end Of next
year, the doctor will have so acres OF
pear orchard, worth approximately
S40O per acre on land that would be
worth possibly $3.50 per acre in al
falfa-
Another orchard that viii be put in
this year IS on the 127 acres pur-
chased last fall by z. C. Craps, form
here and Investigated the situation
carefully Finding the conditions right
Tor peaches and apples he purchased
126 acres OF valley land but a short
distance north OF town.
After building modern home Mr..
Craps started to improve his place,
and has 1900 fruit trees ready for
planting this season. The plan is to
SCI out 5000 pear trees at the rate OF
% trees TO the acre. These trees wiz
not be in full bearing for five to seven
years, and to fill in between now and
the time the pears come in he has
between the rows The peach trees
should begin TO bear in two years and
the i've crops Of peaches that VIII
come In before the pears are bearing
orchard and the expense Of keeping
II up.
1t Is estimated BY those who have
peach orchards that are producing at
the present time that a peach tree four
years old viii pay about "a per sea-
son. and counting 5000 live trees out
or the 5000 that VIII be set out, the
income from peaches should exceed
will not be necessary TO cut out the
peach trees for about seven years,
after which the pears viii demand all
the room.
Buys Tract For Fruit Orchard.
The purchase OF so acres within half
q mile northeast Of town by F. H.
Hayner to be subdivided into five acre
fruit tracts is a direct result OF the
examination made by soil experts who
have been plating the valley for the
department Of agriculture during the
past few months
The statement has been repeatedly
made by various authorities on soil
that the first bench lands along the
Rio Grande valley viii be the fruit
lands Of the future. and Mr.. Nelson
of the department yof agriculture on
several occasions stated that he be-
Heved these upper bench lands were
the best adapted to fruit OF any lands |
in the entire project
One large well, throwing 500 gallons 4
per minute, should be sufficient to ir- |
rigate this entire tract Of so acres in 1
fruit 1t is claimed. and the expense |
Of pumping 100 feet, which viii be /
the estimated lift on this tract VIII /
not be excessive.
The demand for five and ten acre /
tracts for fruit and chicken ranches /
Is already being felt throughout this Z
section. as well as in the Mimbres val
ley and along the Pecos, and IT is
hoped that more Of the land owners in 4
the valley viii plat their holdings into /
small tracts and give the wage Garner /
an opportunity to become the owner Of [
enough land to keep himself and fam
Nv ia comfort