Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1914-04-10

Inc Cuu0 pluut - wei o"'s~ ~
New Mexico conditions. II has grown
in some Of the older agricultural dis
tricts for many years, and has BEEN
and is, a very important crop to q
large per cent Of the New Mexico
population. In former years consider
able chile was shipped out OF the
State, but during the last four or
five years it has been shipped into
the State, due to a disease which
has attacked the plants and reduced
the crop very materially. While this
plant has been grown in the State for
a long time, there had not. until re-
Gently, been any effort made to i'm
prove the varieties. Six years ago
the Experiment Station undertook an
experiment with this crop, to improve
the varieties. Some of the ideas in
mind in the improvement Of the chile
been to produce II larger, smoother
and more fleshy pod. In this investi-
gution fifteen strains were selected
from one of the old native varieties.
Last years results show distinct
characteristics in these strains, as II
result of five years selection. Out
of the fifteen strains there appear TO
be four with well marked character
istics worthy of perpetuation. Aside
from the good qualities in size,
smoothness and fleshness of pod,
they indicate certain degree Of
resistance to the chile blight. The
percentage Of blighted plants last
year varied from nothing, in one
strain, to two per cent.
Under good care, on good soil and
. good stand, an acre may produce
; as high as $1,000 pounds Of green
chile; while last season some OF the
strains in the test produced at the
rate Of over 5000 pounds of fresh
} ripe chile per acre. Upon drying, this
was reduced to slightly over 2,lOO
pounds, OF to about twenty-seven
per cent. In other words, there was
about three fourths of the weight Of
! the fresh red chile water. Two thou
: sand pounds of dried red chile may
r be considered a good yield; particu-
larly so if the price Of this product
$ remains as it has been during the
last few years, at ten to fifteen cents
: pound, wholesale.
In growing this crop, two methods
o are in common practice. II can
n either be started from seed planted
n in the field, or from plants trans
9 planted to the field, which have been
e started in cold frames or hotbeds.
Everything considered, and whenever
r it is possible, the transplanting me-
$ thod is the better. II this method is
Q to be- followed, the seed may be start
;, I'd in cold frame or hotbed abon,
v the last of January or first OF Feb
= ruary. BY about April ! the it'll"
If plants are usually large enough for
d lransplanting. In transplanting to
f the field, two or three plants are set
e to every hill. The hills are two feet
in the row, by three and half to four
e feet between the rows.
e Preparation If the hand for trans
lr planting. After the land has been
!. thoroughly prepared, the rows may
II be marked of; usually by blowing
e out IA small furrow with II small pillow,
II which is used for irrigating tn"
IS plants, the transplanting being don"
lie on the side of this small furrow. a.
J. The plants grow and the middles nr"
is cultivated, the dirt is pushed over
= towards them, so that by the time
'g they begin to bear they are practical
If " in the middle of ridge. II is con
lie sidered n god plan to cultivate in
y, such way as to throw the dirt to-
wards the plants as they grow. The
oil later irrigations are then given
n through the burrows or between the
$, ridges. The chile plant will produce
s. as long as it is kept growing vigor,
A. ously. If it lacks water, it will stor
v growth ana quit oeurihs'
r The more common method OF grow
s. ing the crop is by planting the seet
at in the field. The same distances be-
OF tween the plants and between thu
ut rows as have been given for thu
he transplanting method may be use,
he when the seed is planted in the field
About a dozen seeds should be enough
r. nt each hill. They should not b.
r planted any deeper than tomato sect
lie is planted. When the crop is growin
'al from seed in the field it is plante
I'm on ridges at the edges of the waite
rk mark. Sometimes it will require on
ng or two irrigations to complete GERM
ne nation. Frequently the winds nj
lite very severe on the little plants whic
Use are just coming up. Sometimes fel
me mice will dig out the little seeds,
lis, that in order to have fairly goo
"a stand, in many cases it is necessar
to reseed. If all seeds terminate, II