The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1914-05-14

cessfully as here. This is becoming
more and more apparent as our farm
ers gam experience in the prope
methods OF cultivation.
Although the range Of farming pos
sibilitles here is very wide TINS i
essentially a stock country and that i
the industry upon which prosperity il
the future chiefly depends 1t lie
in the heart OF one of the largest sheel
ranges N the world ana its natural al
vantages as a sheep country are wei
known While until very recently thil
business has been conducted on large
scale, recent experience has proven IL.
adaptability to the small farm. Tn,
immediate locality is now the winter
feeding grounds for thousands of heac
of sheep which are pastured on the
open range and in the forest reserve
during the summer months.
Conditions which have made the
sheep industry profitable, naturally in
spire confidence that the raising OF
other kinds of livestock should be
equally successful Results already
attained confirm this theory AS a
stock country it has already been prov
en- that it is second to none. Hogs
raised here have a remarkable hardy
constitution and rarely are afflicted
with diseases where ordinary pre-
cautions are taken. The hog industry
in this section has developed rapidly
during the past three years. Those
most successful in the hog business
have found that wheat and barley
fed along with alfalfa is equal to corn
and produces fully as fine quality of
pork.
Nowhere are conditions more fav-
orable to the dairy industry or the
raising of beef stock than here. Dairy
products find ready market at eX
cenent prices Cattle fed on tame
pasture or on the open range during
the summer months and on alfalfa
hay during the winter need very little
grain to put them in prime condition
FOR market or to produce an excellent
quality and quantity of milk. While
they, of course, 90 better if properly
housed they require very little shelter
during the winter months
Climatic conditions here are unusual
ly favorable for all kinds of livestock.
The summers are long and while the
winters are not severe, snow usually
remains on the ground from the middle
of December to the first of March and
conditions are very favorable for win
ter feeding.
One ned only point to the success
which the older residents have made
in the stock business to convince the
most skeptical as to the measure of
prosperity which is in store for those
who may follow it in the future. To
1uhn
the development of this country dur
ing the past five years or longer it is a
source of great satisfaction to be able
to point to results which fully justify
original hopes and expectations, and
to be able to predict such a full meas
ure of success and prosperity for the
future. The fact that those who are
most familiar with the situation are
most enthusiastic over the outlook and
are willing to give it a most hearty en-
dorsement should inspire some meas
ure of confidence in those i'll less fav-
pred sections who may be looking for
4 genuine opportunity. Do not mis-
the use of the term 'op
in this case. If its use in
with the promotion OF
western irrigation enterprises during
he past ten years has given it a mean
ng opposite TO that it is intended to
convey, we are not using it in that
ense here In the end it is the indi- |;
'idual himself who must judge as to |
whether the opportunity" which he |
S being asked to consider involves the |;
Investment of hard earned money and |
he realization of nothing but losses /
nd disappointments or whether it is |
cal opportunity to get something of /
value at reasonable cost /
nd to live to enjoy the results of /
Use investment. 1t is easily possible 4
Or anyone to get abundant testimony !.
, disprove any statements designed =
} misrepresent the expense and hard =
-ork which is necessarily incidental y
the improvement of a piece of new !,
md. Very few fortunes have been
lade from the soil alone.
The assertion, once so popular, that 3
rigation is the magic key which e
pens the door to prosperity has long &
nee been disproven We all know q
lie success on an irrigated farm is
ependent entirely upon the energy, Y
telligence and business ability of the y
rmer. 1t is idle to argue the PROPOSE n
on on any other basis. The most we RI
IN say is that other things being 81
Iual success is more easily obtained p
here all conditions, or as many as r
'ssible, are placed within the control 81
the farmer.
One need only point to the recent q
ouths in some of the middle western n
ates to prove the advantages of irri-
ton. How many farmers in that T.
ction would have gladly exchanged 81
aces with the farmer on this project
10, when his crop in need of
tier, need only open his
adgate and supply this essential
ments in the proper quantity.
The value of irrigation may have
en- Overdrawn in cases where the
ter supply has not been all that was
lined for it, or where other condi-
ms have counteracted the benefits,
there can be no argument where
merits of the proposition have al
dy been demonstrated and where
re is abundant opportunity to con-
n or dispose the claims which are
de. -