uS 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



for the cultivation of hay and potatoes. The second 

 bottoms are generally of an adobe nature, with fer- 

 tile soil of great depth, growing immense crops of 

 grain. Between these lands and the foothills the 

 soil is especially adapted for fruit growing. It is of 

 volcanic formation, with high percentages of potash, 

 phosphoric and sulphuric acids, and nearly seven per 

 cent, of lime. The chemical action of these proper- 

 ties, under the influence of heat and water, is to give 

 off free ammonia the life of apple, peach and pear 

 trees and all stone fruits. This potash, lime and 

 soda account for the four and five pound potatoes, 

 forty pound cabbages, and the magnificent pears, 

 apples and peaches which have made Montrose 

 county notable in agricultural and fruit displays in 

 Colorado State fairs. 



GENERAL AGRICULTURE. 



Montrose county is unexcelled for wheat, potatoes, 

 alfalfa and oats, and produces corn, barley, rye, 

 sweet potatoes, sugar beets and cultivated grasses in 

 profitable quantities. Wheat averages thirty-five 

 bushels per acre and produces a never-failing crop. 

 Three crops of alfalfa are produced, averaging four 

 to five tons per acre annually. The immense stock 

 interests of the county afford an unfailing market 

 for alfalfa, for use as winter and spring feed for fat- 

 tening range stock for market. Two flour mills in 

 Montrose consume all the wheat grown in the county 

 without filling the demand for flour. The closeness 

 of the mining towns of Ouray, Telluride, Rico, Lead- 

 ville, Gunnison and Aspen afford continuous markets 

 for vegetables and agricultural products of all kinds. 

 Hog raising on alfalfa and grain has been found to 

 be extremely profitable, and many farmers are en- 

 gaging in the industry. 



FRUIT GROWING. 



Fruit growing in Montrose county may be said to 

 be just commencing. It took actual demonstration 

 on the part of several pioneer orchardists to convince 

 the Montrose farmers that they were in one of the 

 finest fruit growing belts in the West. There are 

 several orchards from six to eight years old which 

 will compare with any in Colorado or California 

 for quality or quantity of production, but the 

 average age of Montrose county orchards may be 

 said to be three years. At the present time about 

 4,000 acres are planted in fruit. This area is increas- 

 ing at the rate of 1,000 acres a year. Apples, pears, 

 plums and grapes are found to be the best and most 

 reliable varieties of fruit. Peaches excel in size and 

 quality any grown in the State, but owing to occasional 

 late frosts are not as reliable a crop as the hardier 

 varieties of fruits. Small fruits, raspberries, goose- 

 berries, blackberries, currants and strawberries grow 

 in profusion and find ready sale at good prices in the 

 mining town markets of the western slope. 



CLIMATE. 



Excessive cold in winter or heat in summer is 

 unknown. There are no oppressive nights. The 

 altitude of the farming lands, which is from 4,500 to 

 6,000 feet, precludes malaria, chills or epidemic 

 diseases. For those affected with consumption, 

 asthma or kindred troubles the climate is unrivalled. 

 There is less zero weather in Montrose and more 

 sunshine than in any State east of the Rockies. 



MINING AND STOCK INTERESTS. 



Coal, both bituminous and anthracite, is found in 

 veins of from two to forty feet in thickness within a 

 few miles of Montrose, the county seat. Gypsum, 

 lime and white and cream colored sandstone, valu- 

 able for building puposes, are also close at hand. 



Placer mining has been for years an industry on 

 the San Miguel in the western part of the county. 

 Rich gold quartz mines of free milling ore are now 

 being opened in the northwestern part of the county, 

 in the Goose creek mining district. 



The live stock interests of Montrose county form 

 one of its greatest industries. The ranges both for 

 winter and summer grazing are well watered, and 

 afford ample pasturage for large herds of cattle and 

 flocks of sheep. A number of cattle growers com- 

 bine farming on a large scale with stock raising a 

 profitable undertaking. 



PRICES OF LANDS. 



Unimproved lands under ditch may be had in 

 Montrose county at from $8 to $20 per acre. Per- 

 petual water rights are 810 per acre with small 

 annual charges for ditch maintenance. Improved 

 lands with two year old orchards sell at from $100 to 

 $300 per acre. Fifteen per cent, of the lands now 

 under ditch may be taken up under the government 

 land laws. 



INCREASING THE WATER SUPPLY. 



Should state or national aid be received to utilize 

 the waters of the Gunnison the acreage of arable 

 lands of the county may be doubled. Although the 

 present water supply, if judiciously used, suffices for 

 the lands now under cultivation it should be aug- 

 mented by the construction of storage reservoirs, for 

 which there are many admirable sites. The county 

 is an excellent field for national or state outlay for 

 construction of reservoirs and irrigation systems of 

 large capacity. The acreage of arable land could, 

 with national or state aid, be more lhan doubled, 

 besides securing to the present irrigated districts an 

 ample supply of water during the dryest seasons. 

 With its farming lands and waters fully utilized, 

 Montrose county would support an immense popula- 

 tion of prosperous people. 



