The Delta independent., 1921-09-23

only; yet one does not feel the chill
in the clear, dry atmosphere at this
altitude that is experienced in the
Mississippi valley and other more
humid regions at ten degrees above
zero.
We have no cyclones, no billiards.,
no sultry nights; no malaria nor chills
and fever.
We depend altogether on irrigation,
! therefore when we plant we can figure
| almost to the pound what we will
reap. That you can not do under
dependable rainfall.
True, it costs more to prepare a
given acreage of land for crops under
irrigation than for cultivation under
ordinary conditions; there are also
the cost of water rights and the pro-
portionate cost of maintenance-Dut
the advantages far outweigh the add
ed expense, for under irrigation tie
crop is fully twice as large as where
dependence is on rainfall.
From this you can see that Colo
radios unrivalled climate is not the
only inducement the state has for the
hoiiSSSShSi- iiSdliol dSTl-
culture an absolute certainty in Colo
rado. The farmers crops are neither
rotted by excessive rainfall nor do
they perish from drouth
The great irrigation systems pro
viding water for the farms, orchards,
and ranches are comparatively owned
by the owners of the land; not one
of the canals or bitches is owned by
outside capital This valley has never
experienced a failure of any crop from
shortage of water.
Pure mountain water is piped under
pressure from mountain springs to
the homes in the town and on the
farms. The town owns it's water
works, which supply many ranches in
addition to the residents of the town.
and there are two other systems of
the same kind supplying domestic
water to several rural districts. all
comparatively owned
The largest continuous body Of coal
in the world lies at Paonia's very
door There are in the North Fork
valley, at Bowie and Somerset, two
large producing mines which ship coal
over a wide territory. We have a CO
operative mine owned and operated
by farmers. The best of soft coal is
furnished by these mines at $3.50 a
ton. Wood may be had for the haul
ing.
Mountain forests OF spruce. pine.
quaking aspen and other woods afford
timber for building at low cost, and
vert great quantities annually into
lumber.
Building stone OF superior quality is
quarried from the nearby hills. There
is also good clay for brick making.
Some ten thousand acres OF land
of the Paonia district is in orchard.
While all kinds of fruit common to
the temperate zone may be grown
here, apples and peaches are the prin-
ciple orchard products.
Paonia apples are famed for their
good size, color, flavor, freedom from
worms and blemishes. and exceptional
storage qualities. Chief among the
varieties grown here are Jonathan,
Rome Beauty, Grimes Golden, Wine
sap, Delicious and the Ganos.
Ganos.
In peaches the Elberta is the prin-
cipal variety.
Cherries attain a degree of perfec-
ton here that is unapproached even
in California. The Bing. Royal Anne
and Black Tartarian are the leading
sweet cherries. and many varieties CT
pie and canning cherries are grown.
also.
Apricots. plums, prunes, pears, net
tarines. ounces and fine berries of nll
kinds are widely produced. Melons
and cantaloupes are less extensively
grown.
Wheat. oats, rye and barley yield
heavily with no apparent depletion If
the soil Varieties of corn have been
developed expressly for local cordi-
tions which give good crops. The
sorghums and other ensilage crops
flourish here.
| Alfalfa is the leading hay crop OF
the valley and three crops annually
are cut, with occasionally fourth.
Originally, the North Fork valley
| was cattle country. and cattle are
still produced in large numbers ut
minimum expense. due largely to the
abundance OF government range. Sheep
hocks are increasing In number and
size. Hogs form an important part OF
our agricultural industry. Mules and
horses are economically raised.
Until recently a large proportion OF
the butter. milk. cream and cheese
consumedin the valley was imported.
Having found this section splendidly
adapted to dairying. many OF our
farmers are engaged in dairying on
an increasingly large scale. There
are in the valley one creamery and