American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1909-10-23
INTERESTING REPORT.
Information Found in the Report Of
the State Board of Horticultural
Inspection.


J. N. Aldrich, professor Of zoology.
University Of Idaho, in an article con-
tained on the report mentioned. saws in
part:
The most extensive agricultural re-
gion Of the state is the Snake river
plain Of southern Idaho, which extends
almost the entire width of the state.
Within the limits of the great Salt
Lake basin, in the southern part of
Idaho, there is a section Of compara-
lively small area OF valuable agricul-
tural land. From an agricultural or
horticultural point Of view the climate
and soil are the principal features of
importance. These, however, are di-
rectly dependent upon the altitude and
other physical features. In southern
Idaho the line of 5000 feet elevation
shows very nearly the limit of agricul-
tural possibilities, as the climate at a
higher altitude is generally too cold for
successful agriculture.
He covers very thoroughly the geo.
logical formation of this section, show
ing that the Snake river valley was at
one time ali extensive lake caused by
the Blue mountains Of Oregon being
! elevated to their present height and
cutting off the outlet until the water
( raised to height sufficient TO go over
them, and since that time has cut the
4 passage down and again drained this
section, and closes by saying: Most
of the Snake river plain has become so
old that an abundance of soil exists,
and in fact some of the choicest land
to be found anywhere is in this section. :"
E. L. Wells, of the U. S. weather
bureau, at Boise, in speaking Of the
climate Of Idaho, says in part:
Throughout many parts of the east
and south there is a persistent i'm
preston that because Idaho is so far
north it must possess rigorous eli
mate, and that because it is so far west
it must be an unbroken desert. Idaho
has its deserts, but even these are being
reclaimed, and there are large areas
that are wonderfully productive without
the aid of irrigation. There are parts
of the state where the winters are in
tensely cold, but in the valleys they
are much milder than those experienced
in the same latitude farther east. Not
only is this true. but Idaho climate pos
sesses some advantages well worth
mention. The state, lying as it does
on the western slope of the great CONT
mental divide and protected throughout
the entire length of its northeastern
border by such mountain ranges as the
Occur d 'Alenes, the Bitter Roots and
part of the main range of the Rockies,
is not subject to the sudden cold waves
that sweep down from the north over
the states on the eastern slope. In
common with the Pacific coast region
it is comparatively free from tornadoes.
High winds are known to occur on the
open plains, but in the sheltered valleys
the winds are usually light. During
the winter there is considerable eloudi-
ness, and in some of the valleys fog is
not infrequently experienced, but in
the summer, particularly in the south
western part of the state. the sunshine
is almost uninterrupted by elouiiness
for days at time.
"In the eastern and central states one
expects to go north for a cooler climate
and south for higher temperature.
and to go west for drier air ana east
for more moisture. butt Idaho altitude
is far more important factor than
latitude or longitude, and ordinarily.
regardless of direction, one finds lower
temperature and heavier precipitation
as the altitude increases, and higher
temperature and less moisture as the
altitude decreases, though there are
some notable exceptions TO both rules.
This being true it is evident that sny
general statement made relative 10 the
climate OF the state or any district in