The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-11-03

Well-Wtlder branches, and also the
roads from Gooding to Jerome, and
from Miner to Oakley, which are to
be connected over d survey already
made. There are now under con-
struction the Richfield-Taft branch
opening up the rich Camas prairie
and surveyed on to Payette via Boise;
the Emmett-Payette Lake. line; the
yassa-Homedale line, which is sur
veyed through to Bull; the Raft river
line south from Burley, which is in
tended ultimately to connect with the
Southern Pacific at Saline Station on
Promontory Point; and the Ashton
briggs branch. These lines total
about $50 miles, and involffve an ex-
penditure of several millions. Still
other extensions are under considera-
ton. A glance at the map shows
that these improvements under way
will end in giving southern Idaho
practically three through lines of rail.
road. Local motor service is also be-
ing considered between McCammon
and Paris and various, electric rail
ways are built and building. All these
lines are. of vast importance to Idaho,
and few states are being benefited by
a more comprehensive building plan.
sheep Feeding
Great as our past Development has
been, our greater possibilities will not
become realities until we have learn
ed to choose the shortest path-to
use the most profitable methods. This
applies exactly as much to agricul-
ture as to anything else. 1t is with
this thought in mind that we call
attention to the feeding of peas to
sheep.
Canadian field peas as a sheep ra-
ton were first used in the San Luis
valley in Colorado in the winter of
1912, when about 5000 lambs were
fed with such success that in the
winter Of 1904-5, 100000 lambs
were fattened in that vicinity.
Under careful feeding, 1900
pounds of shelled peas, representing
about an average acre crop, should
make $50 to 500 pounds of mutton.
Where sheep are simply turned out
to forage, the same amount of peas
would hardly make above 80 to $50
pounds of mutton, although if pigs
were allowed to follow the sheep an
other 80 pounds of pork could be Sc
cured. Even though the method of
feeding in the field has two import
ant advantages, !. e., no cost for har-
vesting, and the manuring of the
fields, it is more profitable to harvest
the peas and feed them from the
stack like alfalfa. This gives the
maximum feeding value from the
crop and the lambs fatten bette:
when confined than when left in the
field. There the lambs travel too
much, and on account of their rest
lessness, fail to put on the maximum
amount of flesh Moreover, it is un-
safe to attempt field-feeding on ac-
count of the snow, except in places
where very open winters are enjoyed
1t is doubtful whether much advan-
tage is gotten by making meal Of tho
crop as in the case of alfalfa, for
while the whole plant will then be
eaten, the woody portions do no.
add much nutriment to the ration.
Peas grow best in high, dry cli-
mate, such as we find in the higher
valley in Utah and idaho. The Straw
berry valley in Utah is a good exam
pie.
Peas may be cheapiy grown. About
SO pounds to the acre constitutes a
good seeding. Sowing may be done
with drills and irrigation should be
thoroughly done once at the begin
ming of the season. Cultivation Is
preferable, though it is often omitted.
The best soil is one which will sub
irrigate to some extent. On account
of the fact that the vines have ten
dency to recumbent growth, it is a
good plan to seed oats or barley thin
ly with the peas, to hold them up.
They have an additional value in that
they, like alfalfa and other legumes,
enrich the soil upon which they are
grown.
Sheep fed in this manner usually
top the market, for the quality of
mutton produced is unexcelled.
Conclusion
We must not expect that our inter-
mountain country is to come into it's
own at single stride or that deyel-
f. - l..