El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-09-19
FARMING
BOWIE FARMERS
ARE PROsPERING
Soil and Climate Adapted
to a Diversity Of Crops
and Many Fruits.

Bowie Ariz. Sent 19.-PracticalIy
all of the homesteaders VINO were aDIe
TO establish residences on the nOihe-
steads have made g9o1 6 TIIti IA
ment- Planting began Win the regular IlIi
summer rains, about the Ilrst VI NY
and has been regular SINCE, anu as q
result it has been fully demonstrated
what the growing possibilities are OF
this soil and climate. As drouth re-
sister, the soil Immediately around
Bowie Is declared a WohueI.. II - d
rich, mellow chocolate. sandy loam'
making very exceptional irrigation
proposition. The whole valley IS as
natural for irrigation as though punt
for the purpose, and when irrigated, or
by rainfall the waters are ABSORBED
into this red clay subsoh the surface
is a natural mulch to retain the
AS an experiment of the possibilities
in fruit growing, in March one of the
first homesteaders to begin develop
ments was J. H. Jaque, secretary OF the
Bowie Commercial CLUB he planted
out about 1876 fruit trees, all varieties,
and about rs grapes, mostly OF the Tor
eign varieties. The holes were dug In
the dry CLAW and. about three gallons
of water poured into each hole when
planting The trees and grapes showed
immediate growth. none OF Tnlch nad
rain or water until the elShtn OF May
when a cavity was made around the
tree, and each was given three gallons
of water and the cavity again filled
and the ground mulched- The next
water was a rain about the 10th or
June. when they were well irrigated,
from the flood waters from the mo-
tains, the regular rains beginning
about the 10th of July, since Wnlcn time
the rains have continued ample Tor all
crops Out Of 135 trees, only about 10
died which shows normal percent
under favorable conditions
A closer investigation OF fruit here,
where some trees are now y and 10
years old, show almost constant yearly
crops heavy yields, and exceptionally
favored fruit About the Oldest or
chaId is on the old Tevis block, right
in Bowie now belonging to j. NJ Par
due. While this orchard was badly
neglected for four years past. no cul-
tfvation and no irrigation, except the
natural rainfall, it produced heavy
crop of fine apples, almonds, some
English walnuts, peaches and apricots-
The pears are now being harvested, one
tree picking 500 pounds, which were
sold for four cents a pound. making
So for one tree, or about S12OO per
acre.
about As acres are in Cultivation and
planted to maize, kaffir corn and cane,
and quite an acreage to field corn,
beans and lima beans, alfalfa cucum-
bers, squash and pumpkins, also an or
chard planted this past spring.
At the J. W. Lancaster homestead
are about 80 acres in cultivation, with
all kinds and varieties of farm pro-
y
ed in July with the regular summer
rains, some of which is now about
ready to harvest.
Ella Craig and wife, of Clifton. Ill, !
have filed each on 800 acres three miles |
west of town. Mr.. Craig was so i'm |
pressed with Bowie and the San Simon |
valley that Immediately on reaching /
home he had his sorinlaW and daugh- I
ter come here and they filed on 800 I
acres adjoining Mr.. Craig's place.
The Commercial club is in receipt |
Of letter from r. z. Born, of Marion. |
IL, saying he and a friend have their 1
ar all loaded with household goods, a
Rouse pattern, implements and team
and will be in Bowie within a week.
Mr.. Born will live on his homestead |
md put up a blacksmith shop in
Bowie.
The contract will be let Monday for
he building of a new graded brick
chool house, on Central avenue. School
5 now being held in the old school
ouse.