Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1897-04-14
IDAHO COFFEE.
A Plant of Great Value in the
Arid REGIONS.

growing State, through a discovery of I
the State Agricultural College. The |
learned faculty of farmers has be- n
experimenting for years with what is
known AS the "Idaho coffee bean" and
the results are of the most satisfac-
tory character. II the facts can be re-
allied by the ordinary farmer, then
the time is coming when the supply OF
coffee will be kept IN the barn, and fed
alike to man and beast. 1t may not
be far distant when the connoisseur
will inquire for the best Rocky noun
tain coffee, just as he now calls for bis
Java or Mocha. The substitute for
the present coffee of commerce is the
so-called Idaho coffee pea, owing to it
having been discovered in that State,
where 1t grows in wild protusion. SO
far as known no attempt has hereto
fore been made to cultivate the pea,
and the developments are likely to
awaken a deep interest in the arid re-
gion, where the growth is confined to
land that can not be used for other
purposes.
Through the instrumentality of the
Colorado Agricultural College for the
past two years the pea has gradually
been growing in favor with the ranch
ers of the Cache La Poudre valley, and
the present season will witness the
production of quantities of it for stock
food, for which purpose it is probable
not excelled by any other crop grown
in the semi arid region.
The plant is native Of Idaho, where
it grows wild, its fruit being used by
many as substitute for coffee, hence
the name "coffee pea"
1t is also said to grow wild in some
parts of Europe. The first known of
it here except through the reputation
it had gained in Idaho, was in the
spring OF 1893, when Charles f. Pen
mock, of Bellevue, Larimer county,
received few of the seeds in letter
written from Wood River, Idaho. Mr.
Pennock planted these in bis garden,
and was so well pleased with the re-
suit that he continued planting, Civ
ing year by year larger area, until he
had accumulated seed enough to sup
ply several OF his neighbors with what
they needed for experimental pur-
poses, and also to meet the call for it
from other sections OF the country.
This was in the spring of 1896. As a
result of tnis distribution of seed sew
eral acres were planted in this valley
last year. Success attended these ef-
forts, and the value of the crop has
been clearly established. One farmer,
John G. Lindemier, raised $50 bushels
Of the peas last year, and sold nearly
the entire crop at good prices.
Those who have fed it to stock say
that its fattening properties have no
equal, for by actual tests it is found to
take one-half less than corn to fatten
an animal. As food for mich cows,
the tests have proved satisfactory, the
cows giving one-third more milk than
when fed ON bran, and butter made
from the milk in winter is yellow as
that made in June. The ration il
made by soaking the peas until they
become s5ft, by cooking them OF BY
grinding and feeding the meal The
st method is preferable, because il
gives better results, Stock prefer il
in that way to any other gra n, and dc
better on it. The average ration for a
working horse is three quarts Of meal
a day. 1t puts the horse in excellent
condition, giving him a 81 ok, glossy
coat, and keeps him IN good health
About the same ration per day is sulti
cicnt for milk COWS or fattening stock
Hugs ltHtllIb NUN buf H. lilTtt DllllS
of the meal to feed, according TO the
size Of an animal
The plant is easily cultivated and is
very prolific, singh stalk producing
from 100 to 400 pods. In 1895 Mr.
Pennock threshed 6S bushels from the
crop Of Idaho peas, grown on less
than three-fourths of an acre Of land
and considers 100 bushels to the acre
an or !inary yield under proper culture
the soil and climate conditions being
favorable. 1t does best planted ir
drills three feet apart, the plant,
standing u inches apart in row
ore seed in place, requiring about
10 pounds Of seed to the acre. II
should be planted as soon as the
ground becomes warm in the spring
about corn planting time, and hoed
and cultivated in the same manner as
corn. When the plants get good
start they completely cover the ground
so that weeds get no chance to inter-
fpre with them IL is n low SDreadinO