Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-08-25
HoLs1EIN COW
Gives Farmer Monthly Pay Check,
Doubles Price of Alfalfa and
Makes Reward of Labor Certain

of Holly and manager of the Ar
kansas Valley Sugar Beet and
Irrigated Land Company had a
very interesting article on the
"Holstein Cow in Colorado"
which gives much, interesting in
formation concerning the develop
ment of the dairy industry in
Prowers county. 1t should be
read by every farmer of this Sec
ton who is interested in dairying,
and is as follows:
The development Of agricultural lands
under irrigation has been quite different
from development under rainfall. The
first lands put under irrigation were gen.
orally situated near communities which
previously had brot in their agriculture
supplies from a distance. and to have
commodities supplied at home made
good price and good market for the
farmer. The mining and livestock CEN
ters did not keep pace with the growth
y
our farmers find that eastern markets
make the prices of what they have to
sell. The western farmer then found
that certain localities were peculiarly
adapted to certain crops, and that il he
lived around Greeley he could get largest
returns potatoes from around Rocky Ford.
the cantaloupe paid best. around Grand
Junction peach crop was the thing. etc.
This ledto system of specializing in
crops. until the farmer learned that he
could not continue with one crop and
maintain the fertility Of his land.
| Among the most important things our
farmers have learned are the value Of
rotation and of fertiliz alton. He also
learned that it did not pay to put all
his eggs in one basket. II he made
good market for a special quality Of pro-
duce, other communities quickly were
in competition.
The Arkansas Valley of Colorado has
shown great material progress in the
past twenty years. altho it has been in
an experimental stage of development
We specialized in melons and sugar
bsets, but returns from these crops did
not grow from year to year. The tonnage
Of sugar beets to the acre has been on
the decrease. and the principal reason
has been that the fertility of land has
been decreased each year. In Prowers
county we have been shipping to the
eastern market $4,000 tons Of alfalfa
each year and we have been receiving
for it SO to Sc per ton. A few fortunate
farmers have been able to feed their hay
to cattle or sheep on their farms and
thus improve their land and secure in
creased crop returns. The small farmer
had no capital or credit tc secure ami
mails to feed and has been going back
in his producing ability. To make long
story short, we have come to the realiza-
ton that it is impossible to take every
thing off the land and put nothing back.
The Arkansas Valley Sugar Beet and
Irrigated Land company operates a
model dairy farm at Holly on which they
have eighteen yearling heifers o: its own
raising. Every one of these animals is
large, vigorous, and handsome. Being
kept in pen by themselves they pre-
sent most pleasing picture. Strangers
ask how they have been fed and hand
led to show their size and capacity.
They have been fed only alfalfa and
silage and such roughage as can be used
from the farm. Our cheapest and most
abundant feed has been given to them
and their growth represents the mimi
mum of cost altho their appearance indi-
Gates the maximum of attention. They
have never been in barn or confined
under any shelter. Like "Topsy," they
just grew.
Here is what the Holstein COW has done
for US. She has more than doubled the
price we got for alfalfa and silage crops.
which are our staples.
She has used very proftably the beet
tops and beet pulp which are the by
products Of our beet sugar industry.
She has given the fertilizer to make beet
growing profitable.
She has given the farmer monthly
pay check. the means to utilize lot Of
labor which heretofore went to waste on
the farm, and has given him remunera-
tive labor for every day IN the year.
She has made the reward Of labor GER
tain.
She has made home happier and more
attractive and the education of the chill
dren possible. She has interested the
boys and will help them to grow INTO
better citizens. She has made our far
mers satisfied. contented citizens who
study the profitable business at hand and
do not dream OF the green fields far
away. She has made a community in