THE DESERT AND THE ROSE 47 



ern doctors who send healthseekers to shiver in 

 our Valley without winter clothing, to the contrary 

 notwithstanding. Further, in selecting his crop the 

 prospective ranchman must take into account the 

 amount of labor required for the crop of his choice, 

 the ready cash he possesses to pay the rising cost 

 of labor, taxes and so forth. Many do not pause to 

 consider ways and means but hurry joyously to 

 paper profits — futures, that is. In talking with a 

 highly successful ranchman recently I was interest- 

 ed to learn that he viewed cotton as the coming ban- 

 ner crop of this section; not having a head for fig- 

 ures unless promptly written down I will not pre- 

 sume to specify the number of bales he raised to 

 the acre. There is ample proof that in ancient 

 times Indian races were successful with cotton, but 

 this crop is only now making a fresh start in both 

 Valleys. My informant pleased me by rating my 

 favorite alfalfa next in order to cotton as a money- 

 maker, although as already told it will not stand 

 arrant neglect. It needs comparatively slight labor 

 or care, is not pestered with modern bugs of sorts, 

 is easy to market and so forth. And in these days 

 of water abundance let not the humble berry be 

 overlooked. Strawberries have always been ex- 

 ceptionally fine and well flavored and were I now 

 in the farming business a large slice of land would 

 be given up to berry culture of every description. 

 Our neighboring Texan city has been slow to show 

 hospitality to Upper Valley products as every house- 

 keeper in that city knows, compelled as she too 

 often is to supply her household with unripe or half 



