The Monte Vista journal., 1917-09-15

There are instances at this early date
OF the 1917 shipments showing that
returns of more than $4,000 an acre
have been paid growers for their
crop
There will be 5000 cars of pota-
toes shipped from the San Luis val
ley this season. and this crop alone
should distribut, more than a.million
and half dollars among the potato
growers.
Hog Raising
There are very few irrigated sec
tons of the west where the hog can
be profitably grown and finished for
the markets, owing to the fact that
the fat-producing and finishing crops
such as peas ard corn can only be
raised in very few agricultural dis
trlcts. However, the San Luis Val
ley is especially favored as hog
growing district, because of the
great productiveness of the field-pea
crop.
1t is estimated that more than one
million dollars will be paid to the
farmers for hogs this year, and the
industry gives promise of becoming
the greatest of all revenue producers
for the San Luis valley farmers.
Lamb Feeding
The lambs are brought from the
ranges in October and fattened on
peas grown on the San Luis valley
farms. Most of the lambs are ready
for market in January, and ship
ments are made that month to the
eastern live stock centers. 1t being
estimated that 100000 Limbs will be
fed in this valley this winter.
Land Holdings Too Large
The eastern farmer and those
from other western irrigation dis
tricts will be wonderfully impressed
and greatly interested in the agricul-
tural and stock feeding opportunities
offered in this valley. The produc-
tiveness of the soil; the abundance
of water for irrigation; the growing
of products that command high
prices, and the raising of "soil build
ing and fat producing" crops, all
combine to make this the most fav-
ored agricultural and live stock feed
ing district in all the west But this
irrigated section needs more farmers.
Land holdings are too large, and un-
til this acreage is divided into so and
100 acre farms, the prices will re-
main about half the sum asked for
agricultural land in the eastern
states. Then with the coming of the
increased rural population; the di-
viding of the farms and the more in
tensive cultivation, the farm values
will advance to equal the prices now
asked for good land in other farming
districts.
Much has been accomplished in the
development of this vast area of fer
tile land during the past twenty
years, but the improvements and ad-
ten years will so far eclipse all past
records that the people will be
amazed at the wonderful accomplish
ments of this agricultural district.
And during this growth there will be
prosperous conditions and opportun-
tiles for making money, that are un-
precedented in the development of
farming district.
Our Great Advantages
The farmers in this valley do not
ship unfinished products to market
and this means that the farming sys-
TEN is governed by the very highest
intelligence and by scientific princi-
pies. The peas fatten and finish the
lambs and hogs for market; the
wheat is made into -four and the sur
plus shipped to foreign markets;
other grain crops produced and the
horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. Thus,
in these earlier years of the develop
ment of our agricultural resources,
the correct fundamental principles
for a successful and prosperous farm
ing district have been established
and are earnestly and enthusastical-
ly observed.
Land Values
Like ak other large farming sec
tions the San Luis valley has a wide