Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1910-06-17
GRAIN CROPS
IN IDAHO
DISCUSSION OF THE VARIOUS
METHODS OF RAISING CEREAL
CROPS ON SAGE BRUSH LAND.
PROBLEMS FOR FIRST SEASON
Why Cereal Crops are Often the
Best Crops Available for the First
Years Irrigating.

Grain crops can be raised on
practically any of the soils of
idaho, and are in general the best
crop that can be grown on most of
the lands the first year after being
cleared of sage brush. because of
the usual uneveness of this raw
dand at the outset.
Land first cleared and then lev
eied always settles some with
irrigation, and consequently it is
generally best to count on the per-
manent leveling of the land for
economical irrigation of such per-
mMacEt crops as alfalfa, clover or
orchard after some cereal crop has
been crown and The land is irriga=
ted during the first year.
The methods followed in raising
grain crops on raw lands the first
year on all the Twin Falls tracts
lis in the main similar with some
slight differences depending on the
character of the soil in the indi-
vldual area TO be planted.
As soon as possible after the
land has been cleared of sage
brush, either in the fall, winter or
very early spring, the fall being
preferable, it should be plowed.
If the clearing is done in the fall,
and the soil is in condition for fall
plowing, it is better to plow then,
provided, of course the soil is
not OF a leachy nature. The plow-
ing OF the land for the first time
is not done very deep; that is, not
more than from five to seven in
ches il order that the top or hu-
mus soil may not be turned too
deep and the roots of the
plants during their early growth |
may have the advantage of the
humus.
II is probably preferable to plow
The first year with a mouldboard |
plow OH land where surface rock
may not interfere, though | have
seen successful first year crops |
grown on land plowed with disc
plows; in fact our entire acreage
was done with disc plows this year
and good crop results were got
ten.
narrowing as a general rule
should be done as soon after plow-
ing as possible. The ideal condi-
tion after spring plowing is to
harrow each day The plowing that
has been done on that day, and
where an individual is fanfiDg a
small acreage you will find 1t
about as economical and very es-
sential in the. conserving of the
moisture to follow this plan. OF
course in large acreages, this ideal
condition is not practical but the
next thing 10 it is the narrowing
Just as soon after the plowing as
possible.
As a general rule, it is better to
harrow the land once each way.
This pulverizes the soil, conserves
the moisture, and makes a better
seed bed than narrowing once,
though we found it necessary with
the large work we had on hand this
year to harrow some of our land
once only, and substantial first
year crops were produced
Either disc or spike tooth
harrow is used in this work with
good results, with preference for
the disc harrow where the soil is
tough or cloddy.
II has been unnecessary in the
sandy soils to do any narrowing,
but instead the floats which are
used in leveling and which / will
describe later, Immediately follow
the plowing.
About as important as any one OF
The operations in connection with
cereal production on first year
land. is the leyeling. Where the
land is extremely uneven, it is a
good plan to take off the high
bumpy spots either with graders or
fresnos, filling up the low spots
before any plcwing is done, and