Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-18

OF course climate is big factor, but
when we learn that southeastern Idaho
has a climate like that of Virginia. all
prejudices fly.
The annual precipitation In south.
western Idaho ranges from about SIX
inches to about 13 inches. January is
ordinarily the wettcst month and July
the dricst. The winter precipitation oc-
ours in smnll amounts. at frequent IN.
tervaIs. and during the winter there is
a considerable amount of cloudiness
with some fog in the narrower valleys
In the spring there Is Il decrease In the
frequency OF rainy days, but in May
there Is an increase In the amount of
rainfall
The precipitation decreases through
June reaching minimum in July.
There Is an abundance OF sunshine dur
bls the summer which. with the alb
sence OF rain and low humidity of the
air, makes ideal conditions for curing of
hay, rlpcnlnG OF fruit and all outdoor
work. There is no loss OF time from
rainy days or from over-wet soil.
PLENTY OF INDUCEMENTS.
Rexbure. the center OF the vast lrri-
/ CATION system of Idaho. the most thor
oughly equipped educationally In the
| whole valley. truly offers inducements
| to the homeseeker the investor or the
\ lover of beautiful climate with culture
and ease.
.,,I -.
| the eastern counties of the state. and in
the angle formed by the boundaries OF
| Wyoming and Montana. In area it Is
about so by 100 miles. being larger than
the state of Connecticut The surface
is varied plain and mountain, with
parks and valleys. Just over the con-
tinental divide II has as neIghbors the
famous JaclSson's Hole region, and that
scenic wonderland of America, the Yel-
lowstone National park
Within Its borders and on the west
ern slopes of the mountains In Wy
omng just over the line are big springs
and eternll snow fields which form tho
sources OF Snake rivers mighty flow
Water for irrigation is therefore album
dant, and the supply never fails. Fre-
mont county is at the head Of the
stream, and has the cheapest irrigation
system in the west
Tlmbered areas are extensive In this
county. and under government man
agement it is planned to make the pres
ent abundant supply of native timber
and wood perpetual
The great plain OF the valley of the
Upper Snake in Fremont county slopes
gently to the southwest
VOLCANIC ASH SOIL.
The principal element of the soil In
Fremont county is a volcanic ash. which
seems to carry an unusually large
amount of plant food This and the
abundance of moisture from the noun
tains, developed heary growth of bunch
grass. which furnished feed in primitive
times for the Wild game herds, and at
later periods made fortunes for sheep
and cattle owners. Erosion in the noun
tains and the disintegration OF the lava
furnish inexhaustible supplies OF plant |
food. and with correct systems OF farm
Ing and irrigation the soil seems to I'M
prove with age.
In the Upper Snake River valley OF
Fremont county there Is no land unfit
for cultivation by reason of the pres
ence of alkali or other minerals. There
Is also no hard pan underlying the soil. |
Fremont county, as a consequence, has |
become the greatest small grain pro- |
ducing country in the Snake River val |
ley The grain production of the coun- |
ty for the past year was over 5000, 900 |
bushels.
FIND A READY MARKET.
Idaho oats. on account of weight, |
freedom from rust and bad color COM |
mand the highest market price of any |
oats produced In the Union, and arc |
eagerly sought in the Chicago market.
Fremont county produces better mill
Ing wheat than any other county In the
state. Winter wheat grown in this
county Is of a superior quality, and
grades equal to the Dakota hard
wheats.
Fremont county. of which Rcxburg
is the commercial center. leads in tho
production OF sugar beets. The
soil and climate unite in pro-
ducing beet of high average
sugar content The industry has
proven very profitable. and is lead
Ing to the development of more in
tensive system of farming under which
Fremont county can be made to sus-
tain ten times It's present population.
Alfalfa is grown extensively. two
crops being cut each year, yielding four
to slN tons per acre. Considerable tim
othy Is grown In the eastern part of
the county with some clover. broom
grass and tnll meadow oat grass The
crop Is largely consumed in stock feed
ing very little being shipped out of the
county.
DRY FARMING.
Dry farming on the bench south and
east OF ReXburg has become the most
important Industrial enterprise that
has been undertaken by the citizens
during the last few years. The I'm
mense crops harvested there the past
two years have revealed a phenomenal
wealth in Its rich soils There is no
better investment for capital, and hero
labor is richly rewarded.
This bench has an area of 100 square
miles. This year between here and
Moody Lyman and Canyon creeks,
nearly quarter of a million bushels OF
dry farm grain were harvested, and still
the amount under cultivation is but
small fraction. This year the yield ran
from 20 to 40 bushels per acre every !