The Delta independent., 1917-12-07
.H0TCHKISS HAS A
PROSPEROUS YEAR

among the most fertile in the banner
county of Delta. Hotchkiss, a town
of about one thousand population
has become the head of one OF the pest
fruit producing sections of the state.
While Hotchkiss has forged ahead IN
fruit production, numerous other IN
dustries have flourished, and diver
s;fied farming assures a variety OF
crops.
The same fertility of the soil, raw
orable conditions, due to the sunsn'ne
and ability to irrigate which makes
the fruit of this section SO excellent
assures also big crops of sugar beets,
potatoes, small grains and aifaifa'
Hotchkiss enjoys practically cloud
less climate. and cool climate, due
to it's high altitude. Surrounded py
high mountains and continuous ridges
If is we'll protected against storms
and cold waves North Fork valley
is higher than some other fruit valleys
Of the state, but its large amount OF
sunshine without the burning heat,
and the cold nights produce fruit that
is iuicy. and tender. The soil here is
a rich, red sandy loan, easily worked
and fertile, producing all kinds OF
crops.
Fruit growing is made profitable
through the orchardist setting out the
trees and then devoting the ground be-
tween the trees to small fruits and
other suitable crops until the orchard
comes into bearing, thus making the
land yield from the first. Strawber-
ries. currants, gooseberriess dewber-
ries. blackberries, raspberries, cher
ries and grapes are among the small
fruits raised and ready market is
found for them locally as well as in
nearby mining camps. Apples are the
staple fruit with peaches close sec
ond. 1876 cars of peaches were ship
ped this season; 175 cars of apples
with 25 cars more to go.
Not only does the fruit grower OF
today profit by the mistakes of the
pioneers in this work, but profits
through realizing that diversified
crops afford sure returns and is not
devoting all his land and time to fruit
but rather has branched out in general
farming and finds success in a variety
of crops.
The sugar beet industry, introduced
into the valley after the fruit was well
established, has become a mint to the
| farmers. Here the beets average more
| sugar to the ton and more tons to the
try The factory at Grand Junction
takes all the beets and are glad to get
them at the highest contract market
price. This season up to the present
time, or last of November, 31,065 tons
of sugar beets had been dug and con-
servative estimate placed those yet
to be dug at 25 tons. The average is
more than 20 tons to the acre in the
| valley.
Alfalfa is one of the steady crops
and makes three cuttings the year
after seeding and once a stand is Sc
cured it is there as long as the farmer
wants it. 1t yields about five tons to
the acre, and usually three cuttings
are made in a season. Very little, if
any, alfalfa is shipped out, but is fed
| locally by the stock man.
Another important crop in the val
ley. is the potato crop. Due to rich
| ness of the soil, and with irrigation
potatoes are kept dry during the ripe
ming season. They are of good quail
itT, even size and smooth, bringing
good price on the market. Car short
age is holding up the potato shipment
this fall and to the present only ten
cars of the fifty estimated have been
sent out
The shipment of live stock. an in
dustry which increases yearly, are
under way. While the most of the
cattle owned by local parties, ranging
on the Black mesa, are shipped from
Sapinero, and those on the Muddy
over the main line, some seventy-fiye
cars of cattle and fifteen cars of sheep
grown in the Hotchkiss vicinity make
up the present shipment. The ship
ment of hogs has just commenced with
| four cars and it Is estimated this year
will see an increase over the forty
cars of 1916.
Poultry raising and bee raising are
both becoming thriving industries
Cheaper feed and high prices tend to
make poultry raising profitable. Dur
ing the year one firm alone In Hotch-
kiss paid out $4,000 for poultry and
| eggs Thanksgiying turkeYs hrniI ght