Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1910-04-15
EXPERIMENTAL
FARMS INSTALLED
Dietrich and Richfield Tracts
Have Benefit of Agricultural
Experts Experience

The Idaho Irrigation company has
recently established an agricultural de-
partment for the instruction of settlers
in matters pertaining to irrigation,
crop production, fruit culture and in
tensive farming on the various tracts
embraced in its big project.
The company has been very FORUM
ate in securing the services of an ex-
pert for this work in the person of
John U. Mcpherson who was raised in
the irrigated districts of Idaho and who
spent all his life in the practice and
study of irrigation and in intensive
agriculture.
Mr., Mcpherson was with the Settlers
Reclaiming and Operating company of
Jerome last year and he also had
charge of the two demonstration farms
of the North Side Land & Water com
pany, the crops of which took first pre-
miums at both the Idaho State fair and
the Irrigation Congress held in Chicago
last fall His produce took premiums
ahead of that of his father, Alex. Nc
Pherson, whose fame as an agricul-
tural expert is nation wide.
Two experimental farms are being
established by the company, one at
Richfield and one at Dietrich, Jas. G,
Pearson being manager of the former
and S. Morgan, of the latter. Mr..
Mcpherson is the Director in charge of
both farms and he will also go out
among the farmers and instruct them
in Irrigation methods, soil cultivation
and crop production and put them on
to the latest and best methods for
raising crops of various kinds best
suited to this region.
The settlers coming to this project
are from many different states and to
many of them irrigation is new and un-
tried If each one should experiment
on his own account with any and all
crops he might desire to raise there
would result many failures and disap-
pointments that might have been
avoided if all these experiments had
been made on one farm and by one indi-
vidual These experimental farms are
for Just this purpose. They can try out
any crop any settler desires to raise
All he needs to do is to furnish the
seed and tell what he wants done with
it. The farm will follow his instruc-
chance to grow and develop and if
success is the result the settlers of the
entire project may profit by it. On
the contrary, if failure results then
no one loses except the company and
they are able to stand it.
Many settlers to the south of US
thought that pea mats would make a
paying crop. The experimental farm
tried them out and found them failure
The individual settlers received all the
benefit of the experiment without
having to lose their time and labor il
a vain effort to raise them.
But these experimental farmers
know from experience what crops are
best adapted to this soil and climate
and they know how to secure the big
gest yields and finest quality. This
knowledge they will use in raising those
crops and it will afford an object
lesson for all the settlers and besides it
win advertise the tracts as nothing else
could. They can there show the goods
which is better than a lot Of theory or
bald assertion. There is nothing that
takes the eye of the stranger ike
samples Of the products Of irrigated
farms in sunny Idaho, and there IS no
better advertisement for the lands of
the Idaho Irrigation company than the
products Of their various tracts sent
out to eastern cities when fairs and
other gatherings call the people to-
gether- Of course the products of the
farms should surpass
those of settlers who have not the time
nor the experience to insure the best
results.
In this connection a lecture was held
at Dietrich, on Friday, April Sth, at
which there were thirty or more of en-
thusiastic and energetic settlers who
showed a deep interest. The purpose
Of this meeting was to answer all
questions relating to irrigation, first
crops in new soil, fruits, ETC. The set
.lers were prepared and had their
questions written down ready to put
hem to the Director, and they were
to the satisfaction of all and
hey all left with greater knowledge
If irrigation than they had at the
opening of the meeting.
During the meeting FIR. L. 0. Janeck
fConcluded on back page.