East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-09-21

corn raising In the Idaho wheat belt
by Prof G. Az Crostwhait, of the Ida
no Agricultural college, is pertinent
to Umatilla county and is republish-
ed In the hope that 1t will benefit this
county. The writer says:
The general purpose that the writer
has in view in the preparation of this
bulletin is to promote the interest that
is awaking in Idaho in Americas
greatest cereal--maize or Indian corn.
There is a greater interest being taken
in this crop in this state than is gen.
orally supposed. During the three
years that the writer has raised corn,
thought corn, and talked corn in
Idaho. he has been conscious of a
deep undercurrent OF interest
throughout the state from the Cana
dian border to the mountain valleys
OF Cassia
This is what might be expected of
population made up so largely OF
those who have come from the sever
nj states OF the Mississippi valley.
Here and there throughout the broad
expanse of mountains. forests, plains
and valleys of Idaho. little dots of
NdNliB EIttH nave bffIl btth
years ago where some courageous
soul homesick for the miniature dark
green forest OF the Corn Belt" and
regardless OF the pitying smiles of
those who "knew." ventured to plant
n few kernels of the golden or silver
ears he had carried across the noun
tains. by careful selection of the few
ears that escaped the early frosts, a
measure of success had come, and
corn growing in Idaho was born.
The writer had no part in these
first attempts at growing what bids
fair to become one of our principal
crops for in some localities success
has come only after many years Of
patient and persistent effort His
mission has been to encourage the en-
largement OF the present small areas
of corn and the establishment of many
new ones. and to aid in the general
improvement OF the crop throughout
the state.
The problem Of making corn a
profitable crop throughout the state
OF Idaho is one of many phases. There
is probably no other state In the Union
where the conditions OF environment
influencing plant growth are so var
led as in Idaho.
Extending from the 42d to the 49th
parallels OF latitude, and varying
in elevation from 500 to 1900 feet
above sea level. there must OF neces-
sity be considerable range in cli-
matte conditions; and because OF the
wide variation in the various types
of soil, there Is n great difference In
the store OF available plant food
present and in the relation of soil to
moisture.
Then, when we reflect that the
crop will be produced where there is
an abundance OF moisture available,
either from the natural rainfall OF
from the irrigation ditch, and also
where the system of "dry land farm
ing" must be practiced 1t is evident
that the conditions to be met are
many and diverse.
In no part of the state is corn more
needed, nor does 1t promise better re-
suits, than In the wheat district
where the practice of bare fallowine
is common. That the bare fallow IL
not essential to the production of
good wheat crop has been abundant
ly proven.
A field on the experiment station
farm averaged over 81 bushels o.
wheat per acre after corn. The pre-
vous year heavy crop of corn hat
been grown for silage. The SOIL Il
the same type as the thousands o
acres in this section that are farme'
under the bare fallow system.
when the fallow is not cultivated
ma is often the case, weeds appea
and sap from the soil plant food AM
moisture, and mature crop OF seed
to further befoul the land when 1t !
cultivated. although the soil is In fin
condition for the succeeding whea
crop. a very little extra labor woul
result in a crop of corn, which woui
be almost clear gain. If the corn
cut for silage, or cut and shocked,
will hinder seeding very little, dis
harrow putting the soil in fine condi
tion. Where there is not sufficier
rainfall to produce a profitable Gro
every year and dry farming mus
be practiced, the soil must be falloW
ed when the moisture in the soil be
comes insufficient for the needs
the crop, but in the wheat secdo
such a condition would be the e'
ception;
II is not contended that wheat an
corn can be grown constantly, an
the land not deteriorate, but we .
say that with q proper rotation II
soil can be cropped every year viii