The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1906-07-28
DRY LAND FARMING.
How Dry Land Farming Ia
Done In Canyon County.


tells how dry-land farming is done
in Canyon county and what III,
results are. The editor describes som,
dry land farms living between Caldwell
and Emmett, as follows;
Henry Cox is the dry land farmer o:
this locality and is making demonstra-
tons that amount to pretty conclusive
object lesson in arid farming.
Mr. Cox made his location three year.
ago, but has only devoted his time ex-
clusiyely to his l6O-scre tract for the
past two years. In his pioneering h..
has had the hearty cooperation Of, ans
has, no doubt, been greatly aided by hi
sensible wife, and also by the keen ac
tiyity Of his two young sons, as we'll
by his older son, Ora
He has built comfortable dwelIins
house, sheds, stables and other out
buildings, fenced a considerable traef
and developed a good supply of watsi
for household and stock purposes. HI
has also made good start in shOrthorI
cattle, and he intends to breed this vari
ETY. exclusively Some good spriu-
calves and yearling heifers were notice
and the stock seems TO thrive surpris
ingly well on range grass ami buck brusI
browsings. The animals appear partic
ularly fond Of the astringent berries an,
tender leaves of the buck brush, an,
Mr. Cox says they not only relish bu
thrive on this kind Of forage, At th,
time Of our visit the aninTsfs were seer
nipping the purple cUlored fruit Of thi
brush, and Mr.. Cox, pointing to tn
yariegated foliage of the shrub, on th
slopes of the gulch, said he would pre-
serve II for stock forage
The first evidence of success with DR.
land crops, on approaching Mr. Cox
place, was seen in robust field of ry'
I In fact, he has two small fields, aggr,
eating some 10 acres that will be save
for seed. The stand is very unisori
and the grain is plump and develOpin
nicely. Experien. ed farmers estimai
that these fields will average about
bushels to the acre In addition TO II
grain to be saved. Mr.. Cox has made
= cutting OF hay from other tracts and h;
J a second crop well under way. Th
) grain was sOwn in the fall, the grour
s having been previously pulverize'
! Ninety pounds Of seed to the acre vi
( sown. The next crop of importance
! the Cox place is corn Several acres
) this are growing and in point of thri
\ and general appearance are the best 4
= writer has seen this season. There W
Z both field and sweet corn. Several pla
) OF potatoes were growing. These we
( planted about May 10 and were
I bloom. having a vigorous growth
tons. The varieties were the Ear
= Rose and Early Ohio, and they were 1
ready large enough for the table. W
< unteer potatoes were also noticed in I
D corn field.
The principle OF cultivation is de
| plowing and thorough preparation
the soil, by harrow and pulverizer, a
| then the application of the dust mul
| by shallow cultivation, with some III
| tooth implement, the nail tooth hsrr
being used in the potatoes and col
| Peas, beans. lettuce, radishes a
| turnips were all sufficiently matured
z the table. .Cabbages were slso beg
Z ming to head, onions were of good 81
, and volunteer squash were grow
Z luxuriantly, the length Of the vine bei
~ then eight fact.
= A strong testimony 70 the vitality
seed was seen In plat of black must'
q grown from seed II years old that
9 brought from Iowa. White navy be'
q we're beginning to pod and. several r
A ishes Of prpdigIvus sire lwere''seft
q mutely testify 10 ths-ieFtiiftyos the :
q Fruit aud slln,le treer of'vsrious XII
were sl,owingsh sheaithY growth. Tn
were mostly the .ecuna a'.earasem pla
frs. and included prune, apple, pc
= and pear trees, and shade trees, :
varieties ss elm, soft maple, ASH b
wood. Caroline poplar, black wal
and white oak. One little cherry {
four feet high, was seen With fruit OF
nm There were other evidences Of sgri
ns. ,urnl thrift that cannot now be no
hat all are going to make up very Z
obiect lesson In dry land farming. W
Mr.. Cox is doing. others are doing
considerable extent, and good
more will be done as the people L
hoW to do it. and properly equip tn
selves for the work. While the pre-
-. t...u exceptionallv favor