Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1916-12-29

WILL INCREASE HIS ACREAGE
Future Prosperity Of the Mimbres
Valley Is Only a Question Of
6ralns and Proper Energy

j. {. Ingram is one of Dcming =
most successful homcsteaders, liv.
ing seven miles southwest of the city.
or Mr.. Ingram 5 100 acres he farm
cd forty acres this year, and next
year expects 10 plant ten acres more.
He special'zes on vegetables and mel
ons, and this year together with sew
eral other farmers he marketed $5,-
900 worth of Vegetables, $4,000 of
With weir ruised on his own forty
fncles.
Last year the Mimbres Valley
Gfeycrs Association was organided,
and'Sir. Ingram vas elected Secre-
tary and Manager, but owing to
lack of interest ON the part OF somo
few producers, this year the asso-
citation disbanded, and the farmers
how living from five to seven miles
from Den'ne intend 10 make private
contracts with Mr. Ingram TO grade,
pack and market their vegetables for
them. For this Mr. Ingram collects
u small per cent. and i has been
found that one farmer who under
stands the packing and shipping Of
vegetables can attend to this part of
The game more successfully for the
farmers than can they do this for
themselves.
For the past -four years Mr.. In
gram has doubled his cultivated acre.
ugc each year. and has each yea.
maintained his record of raising 500
oi produce on efcK a1cra.. re now iiSs
water for fifty acres = Vi ucre-
age will be e coming
season.
Mr. Ingram i& ID what is
termed brush londy ,eing covered
mostly with mesquite and sage brush.
With water put on the soil it seems
especially well adapted to the raising
of sweet potatoes, tomatoes, aspara-
gus and peppers. Eight acres of wa
iermclons and cantaloupes were Sold
this year for SGl2 but owing TO eooi
nights the melons cannot be market
ed early enough Ia eompse with the
lmperial Valley melons. but in flavor
they are the equal of any other melon
Grown.
In addition Ia ycgel hle- Mr. In
gram raises maize fo. feed, bui j,
saws that b. feels the best success
IS in specializing on one line, and his
line is the growing of vegetables,
There are cnoueh farmers within five
miles Of Deming to support a canning
factory, and Mr. Ingram is very
much in hopes that capital will come
/ ere and establish cannery TO be
ia operation next year In addition
10 tomatoes, there can be successful
" canned sweet potatoes, peas and
bell peppers.
If any of the farmers raise more
sweet potatoes than they can find q
market for, let them try fattening
their hogs ON the surplus amount,
and they viii find that one car OF
sweet potatoes viii go much farther
in putting fui on the porkers than
will one ear of corn.
Sweet corn can be grown in this
section, but not in commercial guam
Titles ON account of worms. Maah. /
however, is sure crop, rs no pests |
Gems to bother il mt all
Mr.. Ingram raised this year two
acres of asparagus, and he says he
never saw more beautiful asparagus
any where than he produced. Gu /
cumbers, also, seem to be natura
growtn here, the vines producing .
The cost of the water required to /
raise this years crop of vegetables I
on Mr.. Ingram land was S135 per .
acre.
The vegetable market of Las Cru .
cc-. Tyrone and Silver City is gre -
ar than the present ne reage OF veg
etables will sapply, and the farmers .
of Deming are being urged to IN
crease their acreage the coming year
Mr.. Ingram is also experimenting /
with berries and fruit trees. He now
has on his farm bluekberries, ras p
berries. Strawberries. eooseheries and
Hack curants. lie has endeavored
10 raise red entrants, Int they do rot
thrive. Peach trees appear to do
well. He viii have hot house plants