Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1914-01-30
DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY
OF OUR TOWN DEPENDS ON
MODERN METHODS.
DIVERSIFIED FARMING A GREAT HELP
Encourage Farm Institutes in Town
and Let Our People Cooperate
With Them to Solve Soil Prob
lens and Marketing.


munities of the Inland Empire de-
ponds largely upon more diversified
farming and better farming methods.
Soil does not wear QUITS not ex-
hausted-if it is titled right. Some
of the best agricultural lands in the
world have been farmed almost con-
tinuously for many hundred years
and are today as rich as ever. Ma
ture supplies in the elements, in In
exhaustible quantities, all the essen
tails of farming, but man must use
them right and it is known that till
ing the soil and stock raising must
eventually go hand in hand; the per
manence and success of each branch
of farming depends upon the other.
The undergraduates of cattle is
one of the big reasons for the high
cost of living. With the rapid disap-
pearance of the large western ranges,
it should be evident to every thinking
farmer that there is good money to
be made in live stock.
The continual cropping of wheat
takes the life out of the sail and must
ultimately leave it impoverished. Not
only that but the tendency to large
farms means fewer owners and resi-
dent families and smaller population.
Because it is a profitable crop in it
self, because it is a soil-enricher and
drouth-resister and because of its
high feeding value, alfalfa seems to
point the way, especially in this In
land Empire section, to better and
more diversified farming.
Results of Alfalfa Campaign.
In the recent Holden campaign in
the Inland Empire, the experts empha-
sized the fact that the continual crop
ping of wheat will ultimately ex-
haust the soil and that it is necessary
to rotate some leguminous crop with
it. The more general growing of al
falfa was urged both on its own mer-
it's and because it will in turn stimu-
late the live stock and dairying indus
tries and bring about more diversified
farming practices.
The Holden experts not only
preached alfalfa but studied Inland
Empire conditions and at the conclu-
sion of the campaign made the fol-
lowing summary of the important ag-
ricultural needs of this section:
First. smaller farms and greater di-
versity of products.
Second. conservation or moisture by
the deep humus of alfalfa.
Third, raising of hogs, cattle. sheep
and chickens for home food consump-
ton.
Fourth, greater production. of but
ter, cheese and eggs.
Fifth, a more profitable crop than
wheat and a more constant revenue
than orchards.
Sixth, building of silos for winter
preservation of green fodder.
Seventh, increased soil fertility.
Eighth, resulting Improvement in
farm values.
The campaign also resulted in the
creation of a representative perma
nent publicity committee to keep alive
the interest in alfalfa and to advance
the cause of more diversified farming
generally.
Importance of Silos.
The western farmer is rapidly com
ing to a full appreciation of the eco
nomic value of a silo on the farm ano
with a little more publicity as to theil
construction. operation and relative
merits, they are likely in few years
to be in pretty general use. The de
nartment of agriculture has recently
issued a bulletin on the making anC
feeding solage which gives tel
strong reasons for the increasing pop
ularity of the silo:
1. More feed can be stored in ;
given space in the form of solage thai
in the form of fodder or hay.
?. There is a smaller loss of foo
material when a crop is made into sil
age than when cured as fodder or hay
3. Corn silage is a more eficien
food than corn fodder.
4. An acre of corn can be place.
in the silo at less cost than the sam
area can be husked and shredded.
5. Crops can be put in the sill
during weather that could not b
utilized in making hay or curing foo
der.
6. More stock can be kept on a civ
en- area of land when silage is the bi
sis of the ration.
7. There is less waste in feedin
silage than in feeding fodder. Goo
silage properly fed is all consumed.
s. Silage is very palatable.
9. Silage like other succulent feed
has a beneficial effect upon the diges
i've organs.
10. Silage is the cheapest and BET
form in which a succulent feed can
provided for winter use.
Let us in this community all hel
hoosf for the growing of mora alfaI HI