River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-11-10
ODD FACTS FOR FARM FOLK.
Tokay and Syrian Grapes Grown in
Northern Idaho-All Grains Are
Over Weight When Properly
Grown by rigation-White
Flax Seed-Corn Wheat
in Place of Corn.

It is a big surprise to Worlds FAR
visitors to find that tokay grapes
grow in the United States as far
north as Duluth, MINI. The particu-
lar place where this may be done is
Lewiston, Idaho, on the banks or the
Snake river Whatever is done along
the Snake river in the matter OF agrl-
culture and horticulture must be done
with irrigation, however.
The remarkable things done under
irrigation are portrayed by NUMBER
OF states. Colorado has relief map
of the Arkansas valley. Utah shows
q diorama of one of her irrigated val
Ieys. California exhibits her products
from lands worth a thousand dollars
an acre. Oregon displays her beauti-
tul fruits and grains from irrigated
districts, while Idaho, her next door
ncighbor, won twenty gold medals on
her agricultural showing.
The tokay grapes from Lewiston are
only one of 62 varieties now success
fully grown at that far northern point
where the climate is almost as mild as
Italy, for the tokay cannot flourish
where the winters are cold. Along
with the tokay is a fine sweet grape
from Syria, in which every grape and
fruit grower will be interested. The
name is Hunisa, or Antab late, from
Antab. 1t is large, very dark, and
fine keeper, the last being it's most
important quality. After travelling
over 1900 miles to the Worlds Fair
il opened up in as fine condition as the
tokay, and made a good show. These
grapes are from the first vine of this
variety fruited in America.
Another fact not well known is that
grains grown by irrigation in the
dry atmosphere Of the western slope
of the Rocky mountains are much
heavier than those grown in the east,
and the yield is far greater. In the
Idaho exhibit of the Palace of Agri-
culture at the Worlds Fair are many
examples of irrigation results. A
sack of oats was received at the ex-
hibit few days ago which was graded
by one of the machines in the building
and tested as to weight. 1t was found
that the third, or poorest grade,
weighed SO pounds to the bushel, while
the standard of weight for oats is only
80 pounds to the bushel. The yield
is 100 to ITO bushels to the acre, and
Idaho oats ordinarily weigh AZ to 46
pounds to the bushel. An acre of ir-
rigated land yields about three times
as much as an acre in humid CHI
mate. Wheat in southern Idaho is 81
to 81 pounds to the bushel, the stand
ara being go pounds, and the yield SO
to 70 bushels to the acre. A bundle
of alfalfa hay, second crop of 1904,
brought from southern Idaho is as
tall as man, a six-footer. Five to
seven tons to the acre are grown each
season, it being cut usually three times.
All over southern Idaho, which for
the most part is vast desert, are
cases that have been made fruitful by
irrigation. The liberal provisions of
the Cary Act of Congress have made
possible the reclamation of these
lands, the state taking over the lands
and disposing of them to settlers at so
cents an acre. The water right is an
extra cost, in some cases as low as
$25 an acre for a perpetual right, the
first one or two crops often paying the
entire cost of a fine property. Only
few days ago the state land board of
Idaho threw open to settlement 1000
acres of land under one canal at Twin
Falls, ON the south side of Snake
river. 1t is in Cassia county, one Of
the counties that touch the Nevada
border In this instance the total cost
per acre is $3.50, and under the liberal
terms of the Cary Act entry may be
made through another person. The
payment is in easy installments.
Many of the exhibits in the Idaho
display are from along the Snake river,
which is so named because of it's sinu-
GUS course, and not because Of any
snakes. The water for the Twin Falls
tract, which embraces 270,000 acres, is
fl ON the Snake, and the cost of the
1000 foot dam and the 100 miles of
main canals is about $2,500000 A
railroad is being constructed from
Minidoka southwark to cross the tract,
which is expected to repeat the history
Of the Wood River Country, the Boise
and Payette Valleys, and become a
populous part of the state
Idaho has the honor of showing in
her agricultural display something
that very few farmers have ever seen,
namely, white flax seed. This variety
OF fax originated in Idaho, and is
said to possess great commercial pos
sibilities, because it is richer in oil
and produces a grade of very light
Colored oil that is far more desirable
for white paint than the darker
grade.
Idaho is trying to do what other
mountain states are attempting, that
Is, to supply the home market with
fruits, vegetables, meats, grains and
dairy products. The mountains con-
tain hundreds of mining camps and
settlements where everything now pro-
duced finds ready market, while the
demand increases with each new min
Ing district opened.
Corn is about the only thing that
does not grow well in the irrigated
deserts of southern Idaho, because the
summer nights are cool, but kind Of
grain is raised called corn wheat that
takes the place of corn, and produces
over 100 bushels to the acre. 1t is
worth any farmers time to take