Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1909-10-08
Probably the Best Money-Mak-
ing Crop that can be Raised
in Irrigated Sunny Idaho
500 PER ACRE FOR CROP
Should be Drilled in Rows Two and One
Half or Three Feet Apart and Gull
.tivated to Obtain Best Results

For the past two years the rancher
of the Hagerman Valley who hav'
raised a crop of alfalfa seed have mad'
record of $4,000 gross income pc
acre including seed and hay. When thi
matter was presented last year in th'
Journal, it was thought that the recorC
might be exceptional and that subse
quent years would prove less fruitful
for this crop. But recent reports from
the Valley indicate that the season Of
1909 has maintained the record of for
sgner years.
George L. Durfee and John F. Cald-
well were attending court this week
and when the Journal representative
ascertained that they were citizens of
the Hagerman Valley, he made inquiry
of them regarding the yield of alfalfa
seed in the Valley this year. They in
formed him that more ranchers had en-
tered the contest this year than any
previous season, and that the yields
were as great as on any previous oc-
casion. Mr.. Durfee himself had about
twenty-five acres which he let go to
seed. OF this, there were sixteen
acres exceptionally heavy, and he is
satisfied from observing the records of
those who have already threshed that
if all of the seed could be taken out of
the straw by the alfalfa huller, that
the seed would average about 20 bushels
per acre. AS it is, he thinks there is
no doubt but what he will receive six
teen bushels per acre off of the field.
Bear in mind now that Mr., Durfee
had cut crop of hay before allowing
the seed crop to start. Mr.. Caldwell
had field of seven or eight acres, that
was a very heavy stand even for hay.
In order to let the hay crop mature, he
let his crop of first hay stand too long
before cut ting Of course, he got a
big crop of hay, at least three tons
per acre, but the seed crop did not have
time to fully mature before the early
frosts of fall cut the tops. He is sat
isfied that the field would thresh out an
even 20 bushels per acre, but all of
this will not be first class seed for the
market Charles Owens threshed 300
bushels from a field of twenty or thirty
acres. Mr.. Owens did not save a crop
of hay. The price of alfalfa seed at
the machine for shipping purpose is
now ST. 80 per bushel. Sixteen bushels
per acre at $3.50 per bushel will amount
to $4,000, which is pretty good price
TO receive for single acre of alfalfa
seed, besides three tons of hay off the
same ground, which is worth at least
SIS. 90, or more.
When asked to give "a conservative
average yield for seed and hay crop
in the Valley this year, both Mr.. Durfee
and Mr.. Caldwell stated that $4,000
an acre would be very safe estimate
1ethe total proceeds.
AS the Journal representative had
some spart time on his hands, he en-
.ered into a conversation with these
regarding the best methods
# cultivating alfalfa for the production
If seed crop. 1t was their opinion
hat in seeding the ground to alfalfa, it
would be best to drill the seed in spar
ngly in rows from 2lS to feet apart.
then cultivate and water the grounds
etween the rows every year. The
econd year the field would be ready
or stand of seed and by continuing
his method of cultivation and irriga- |
ion they could see no reason why a |
rop of seed should not be produced Q
very season for many years without e
eseeding the land. They claim that P
he alfalfa plants would grow like P
ushes and that the sun could reach on t
9th sides of the rows and ripen the Ii
eed evenly and in sufficient time to es- 5
spe all early fall frosts. 1t is their t
,inion that in this Wood river region p
,ere might not be time to mature a "
ON of alfalfa seed after the first cutt- O
% for hay, unless that first cutting p
ere made prior to the lst of June In p
,e Valley, they claim the seed crop VI
,ouId be allowed to start not later a