Semi-weekly herald. [volume] (Durango, Colo.) 1907-1917, 1915-12-20
MOSTLY FOR FARMERS
AND PEOPLE UNABLE TO
ATTEND THE INSTITUTE

TaiHeTS INSTITUTE nelu at the EN-
change rooms yesterday afternoon
and evening.
First on the program was an ad-
dress on livestock by Prof. Bentley,
and he strongly advised breeding only
standard animals. He had seen Durco,
Berkshire and Poland China cross
breeds since coming to the San Juan
basin, which the market does not
want. Alfalfa pasture with a little
grain feed each day is the greatest
hog fattener in the world. Two or
three per cent of the weight of each
animal should be fed it daily on grain.
Every farmer in this section should
have small nerd of sheep on his
ranch. Then by clubbing together
they could have them pastured in
the mountains in summer. Hogs at
Fort Lewis have been fattened on
to pounds of ground barley daily
ration to make almost two pounds in
crease each day.
County Agricultural F.. d. Smith
next spoke. He said that, with the
variation of attitudes in this San
Juan section, we can and do raise
more diversified crops than any sec
ton in the east. In his eight months
of experience here, he finds that the
San Juan basin people have not set
tied down to established methods of
farming as in the older states. With
Its salubrlous climate and productive
soil and large water supply this
country excels all other places. Crop
rotation and deep blowing are essen
tial to success in farming here. BY
following alfalfa with potatoes one
farmer dug 225 sacks off one acre.
The ground had been producing about
two tons of alfalfa per acre. Eggs
and poultry are neglected here, and
with proper care they will pay the
grocery and dry goods bill of the
ordinary family. Last year $4,000
worth of eggs were shipped into Du-
range from the San Luis valley.
Hogs raised on alfalfa pasture and
4 little grain will weigh 100 pounds
each at time of frost. He said he had
a complaint from one farmer who had
ID fat hogs and from another who
had ii head that they could not sell
1T Durango. There are no local buy
ers who buy and ship fat hogs to
Denver now, but Mr.. Smith said the
farmers should organize and make up
carload shipments among themselves.
He also had complaints from farmers
that they could not sell potatoes, and
yet he has now orders for ten cars
IF white Pearl and two cars of Early
Ohio. There are none to be had that
are properly graded. Our farmers
put all sizes and different varieties
IF potatoes in the same sack and the
market absolutely will not take them.
The demand on two sides of US for
seed potatoes is untitled. and yet this
soil is free from disease that
affects the potato, but no effort is
made to raise seed spuds. One man
also complained that he had brought
wheat to Durango yesterday and could
not sell it at any price, but had to
store it. Much of the wheat grown
mere, said Mr.. Smith, is not fit for
milling. He has this year examined
. sheaf of wheat that had five diff
ferent varieties in it. Some of these
mature very early, others do
not, the result being shrunken, bad
wheat for milling. If used it makes
Inferior flour. Lots Of flour in this
basin is shipped in from Kansas and
sells at $3,75 to s4 per 100 pounds.
Kansas raises an average of 10 BUSH
lis of wheat to the acre, while we
raise three times that much and more
Dur farmers should look at this mat
Ter carefully.
Edgar Buchanan then spoke on
iruit raising and marketing. Uniform
ty of products is very important,
ne said. In the apple line there
are certain varieties that experience
shows do well in this county. Such
apples should be grown as our market
will take. Fall and winter varieties
- .Aul IL.
apple, such as the Delicious, Grimes
Golden and Wakner are the lead
ers. The Mcintosh Red is proving to
be profitable apple also. No mis-
take can be made in planting these
and grading them carefully
for market. He has at hotels in this
basin eaten artificial butter, canned
milk, cocoanut, BURBERRY and other
canned fruit pies, raisin sauce and all
the time we raise apples that are
there ought to be an educational cam
paign in our homes for home grown
food, and quit the tin can habit.
Mr.. Smith stated that he had stop
ped with Durango family last sum-
men when the berry season was on.
The first farmer to call at the house
the wise housewife waited and by
night she had bought from another
farmer the berries for SITS. His
criticism was lack of organization
and standard price. By organic
ing the Montezuma apple growers
sold 80 cars of apples this fall.
w. G. White then made few re-
marks. Said he knew nothing of
farming or. farmers, but in looking
those present over he did not think
many of them did either. Too many
of our farmers do not take pride in
getting their products in pleasing
shape for market. He had bargained
for two different kinds of beans from
a farmer, but when they were de-
livered they were all mixed together.
He called the deal off, of course.
Our farmers are handicapped by linn
tied markets, but they have no fixed
prices for their stuff. He is afraid
that il he buys at their price they
,yill setl othare cheaner II is IIngatiz-