New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-01
IRRIGATIoNN IDAHO.
TEE PROMISE OF RICH CROPS IN THAT |
ARID TERRITORY.

ARID TERRITORY.
tyRosi Az OcoAsoxkL CORRESPONDENT THE TRiBuEE.l
Boise City, March loIrrgated lands are lands that
always produce large crops regardless OF the seasons
or rains II Is mistake to suppose that irrigation
Is only suitable or profitable in regions devoid Of
ratn. While absolute necessity in arid regions, II
Is great help to successful agriculture in every
ton Of the earth In the southern hah OF Idaho ir
nsaten is an absolute necessity in all attempts At
tIllage; while at the Same time II also offers the
farmer an absolute advantage over ordinary agn-
CULTURAL labor with land having the ordinary rain
fall Of the East Tho farmer In Idaho being obliged to
resort to irrigation ia always certain of large yield
he loses no seed labor crop BY dry or wet seasons
his crops arc grown and harvested under . bright,
clear shy, losing nothing nom storms or rain before
or at harvest: he Is entirely independent Of the
weather he can mako hts crop early late at VIII
he can have his land wet or dry, as desired, for
ploughing cultivation or harvesting. Crops grown
under these circumstances are always harvested In
good condition and are GENERALLY Of superior Quality;
consequently they bring higher prices.
In the neighborhood Of Boise City, and mp and
down the rich valley of the Boise River for distance
Of sixty miles by individual effort and by the COM
bined enterprise of the ranchmen. numerous small
irrgatng dftohes have been opened with most crafty
ing results Ono Of the most prominent farmers In
the Boise Valley recently made the following state
mont: On ten acres Of our poorest land, and with
imperfect irrigation. raised forty tons of redclover
hay sold 5000 pounds q $50 bushels) Of onions from
two acres; potatoes gave 500 bushels to the acre;
have raised 1000 bushels on two acres; have also
raised 1l3 bushels Of barley acre; wheat from
forty TO sixty bushels oats. 100 TO $50 bushels
carrots and turnips equally good with potatoes Con-
pectiout Alnt corn win grow we'll especially On the
her benches have raised SIXTY bushels TO the acre
IN the bottoms Prunss the Germans say, grow better
than In their own country. Apples, pears, peaches
pums, aprioots. Cherries etc.. as we u not better
than IN the most favored spots Of California. Tho
elm, soft maple. black walnut and locust nako our
best shade trees
Another for some years a citizen OF the Territory,
say aIdaho valleys cannot be sxcelled by any region
east Of California for the production Of fruit Apples
peaches pears, nectarines, apricob pums, prunes
RrapeS and all the small fruits produced in the
greatest abundance and oil a quality unsurpassed.
The sage brush lands naturally the very emblem Of
sterity and desolation, IN few years turned into
the finest fr1dtfarms with less trouble than would
attend a similar Transformation on the Wild praros
of Iowa and Nebraska. Several OF the orchards In
the vicinity Of Boise City produce from $4,000
10 10000 bushels of fruit annually there having been
but one failure In the crop for ten years.
However we'll adapted 10 the growth of fruit aud
grain the most extensive and perhaps the most profit
able use Of irrigated lands IN Idaho VIII DO the grow
ing Of hay for tho winter feeding and fattening OF
stock The summer pastrrsge Is without limit ADD
10 this abundance OF winter feed, Joined win
mid climate and Idaho viii take tho foremost place
IN successful and profitable Stookraisng The yield
OF hay on irrigated land is from four 20 SIX tons per
acre The hay can DO out and stacked by contract
NJ from one To two dollars per ton. II sells for from
x to eleht dollars, stookmen saying they can well
afford to pay the latter price. This demand alone
will give sure and profitable market on the ranch for
tho product Of all these millions Of acres Of Southern
Idaho now awaiting irrigation
Several companies have been organized and have se
cured water rights on the Boise River above and
below Boise City. They propose carrying the water
by different routes the rich plains traverscd
By the Idaho Central and the Oregon Short Line rail-
roads, by the thrifty young towns Of
Nampa ana Caldwell, and on through
the Valley Of the Snake, finally empty
ing into thatrver In the region Of its gold plsces, ir
eating thousands Of Of land Of superb quail
ity a may be found the continent and which lie
fair TO the sun, sheltered by not distant mountains
from northern blasts. Ingating these lands win
bring great profit TO their as well as 70 the
ditch companies.