Arizona republican., 1922-01-01

and shipped in large quantities. The
prices are good, reaching So or 81 a
crate. The Salt River valley can
taloupes are well known for their
excellent quality They are the best
shipping melon known, are early, ana
reach Eastern markets in good con-
dition and bring the best prices. The
returns average $21S per acre. Inc
land in many parts Of the valley is
particularly adapted to cantaloupe
and melon crops.
Haven for Cattle
Cattle come from the ranges all
over Arizona and from other states
into this valley to be fitted for mar
ket. as many as $4,000 head being
"turned off, in prime condition in a
single year. They are put on the
alfalfa fields or allowed to run to
alfalfa hay in stacks. These range
cattle are fattened at all seasons,
grazing chiefly on alfalfa, but during
the winter months the grain fields
are fed off to prevent too rank
growth. Many farmers own ranges
in the mountains but the general
practice is to buy stock for feed
ing. Two steers can here be fat
tened on one acre, but three steers
on two acres is conservative. This
putting meat on a frame is good bus
mess where the bulk of the food
consumed is devoted to growth.
Modern methods Of fattening are
quickly adopted by up-to-date farm
ers. Here is alfalfa, the ideal feed,
right at hand, and along with 1t
cotton seed meal from the gin. There
are also milo maize, kaffir corn, fed
erita and an endless variety OF crops
which are especially destined to suit
the needs OF the stock grower and
farmer who wants to fatten cattle.
The rule in the Salt River valley
will soon be a few head Of stock on
every farm.
The Importance Of the livestock
industry adds to the permanent VAL
ue of these irrigated lands where
such splendid crops Of meat making
material are grown. 1t puts on a
substantial basis that farm which
adds stock raising to alfalfa growing.
There is no middleman between such
a farmer and his market. and there
is no worry about over production.
The climate that jumps the growth
of grass in field, also quickens the
maturity of the beef animal.
Dairying is most profitable where
protein, the most expensive element
in the ration of the dairy cow. can
be produced cheapest. Here lining
of the soil is unnecessary; no neces-
sity for inoculating the seed, for the
bacteria which favor the growth of
alfalfa are found in our desert soils.
Soil, sunshine and water, the three
essentials of success with alfalfa, are
here. Another factor which is at
tractive to dairymen is the low cost
Of equipment. The majority of the
dairymen have no stables. milking
in the open corrals the year round.
Those who have stables use them
only for stabling the cows during
milking or feeding.
Silos are coming into more general
use, and an increasing number are
being erected each season. Both ee-
ment and wood are used for building
material and both are satisfactory.
Hogs are raised with less trouble
and danger from the disease here than
elsewhere. Again, the natural con-
ditions in the valley are found to
be the farmers best friends. The dry
air and the warm, sunshiny days
are the best of disease destroyers.
Thousands of hogs are in the val
ley.
1t has remained for the Salt Riv-
er valley to develop the perfect util-
ity sheep. Here the animal is a
worker as we'll as a provider Of food
and clothingASheep are found to be
very valuablSi in keeping ditch banks
clean. They fatten quickly and a
market is at hand for wool and NUT
ton. In addition, half a million sheep
are BROUGHT in from the desert ang IS
for fattenlng. and for lambing. Some
farmers find good profit in fatten-
ing sheep on alfalfa or on mixed ra-
tions.
In the long list Of crops maturing
by months are to be noted many