APPLES 



271 



costs appi-oximately $60 per acre for a 

 maximum crop of about 200 crates per 

 acre and the cultivation and the water- 

 ing incident to harvesting a good crop 

 are ideal for securing a maximum growth 

 on the trees. Cantaloupes do well on the 

 heavier upland soils of the valley with- 

 out fertilizer but do not appear to be 

 adapted for the light sandy soils. 



Potatoes 



Four acres. Yield 2S tons, exclusive of 

 culls — about two tons at $3 or $4 a ton fed 

 to stock. Returns: One ton early pota- 

 toes, $35; 22V2 tons, August digging, sold 

 to net f. o. b. Grandview, $395; three tons, 

 late digging, $45; total, $440. I prefer 

 early planting, as prices average fully as 

 good, less water is required and the 

 ground can be seeded in September to win- 

 ter wheat for poultry. For potatoes and 

 corn the ground needs enriching. Two 

 years ago (1911) on ground not enriched, 

 I harvested four tons merchantable pota- 

 toes per acre. Last year (1912) on man- 

 ured ground the yield was seven tons, and 

 this year I will have two-year clover sod 

 with manure dressing, which I expect to 

 yield around 12 tons per acre. All seed 

 is treated with formaldehyde and so far 

 I have had no loss from scab. On an 

 eight to ten ton per acre crop, seeding and 

 harvesting expenses need not exceed $5 or 

 $6 per ton and fair returns are obtained 

 at even $12 to $15 per ton for potatoes 



Corn 



Five acres. Yield 175 bushels. Value, 

 exclusive of fodder, $125. This corn was 

 on unenriched ground. Next year I will 

 have two-year clover sod and expect bet- 

 ter than twice this yield. I have been 

 feeding the fodder to the cows but this 

 year will put in a silo and corn not used 

 for silage will be husked without cutting, 

 the stocks run down with a stock cutter 

 and plowed under. All corn is fed on 

 the ranch, chiefly to poultry. 



Wheat 



One acre. Yield approximately four 

 tons wheat, on straw. Value $25. The 

 wheat was sowed in September of the 

 previous year, on land from which pota- 

 toes were harvested in August, and cut in 



June and the ground replanted in .July to 

 rutabagas, making three crops in two 

 years. 



Riitaliagas 



One and one-fourth acres. Yield 175 

 sacks. Returns: 100 sacks shipped for 

 culinary purposes to net f. o. b. Grand- 

 view about $100; 20 sacks sold 50 cents 

 per sack; balance fed to stock; total value 

 about $125. 



Tomatoes 



One-fifth acre. Yield two and one-half 

 tons. Returns $85. The tomatoes were 

 packed in peach boxes and shipped. Re- 

 turns varied from 30 cents to 65 cents 

 per box f. o. b. Grandview. I was espe- 

 cially fortunate in my marketing but 

 would not recommend a large acreage un- 

 less the greater part of the crop could be 

 sold to a cannery. 



Onions 



One-tenth acre. Yield 12 sacks. Re- 

 turns $12. All things considered not a 

 bad crop. 



Black Caps 



One-tenth acre. Yield 25 crates. Re- 

 turns $45. Considerable work in harvest- 

 ing, but with pickers available a paying 

 crop. 



Poultry 



"While not a field crop the poultry and 

 the cows are an important item on our 

 ranch. The average number of hens was 

 about 300. Total returns from eggs, sale 

 of hens, broilers and about 25 turkeys, 

 $800. My experience would indicate about 

 50 per cent of the gross returns from the 

 poultry to be required for feed. Consider- 

 able of the feed, including all excess milk 

 from the cows, is produced on the ranch. 

 The poultry have proved a valuable ad- 

 junct and personally move desirable than 

 hogs. Our experience would indicate this 

 valley to be especially well adapted for 

 poultry. 



Dairy 



During 1913 we milked two cows, but 

 have four heifers to freshen during 1914. 

 The cream checks from the two cows after 

 supplying the ranch with milk and butter 

 amounted to about $200. If the increase 

 and growth of young stock, together with 



