Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1914-01-30

Q
p local conditions and a large number
e were inexperienced in irrigation. Very
j few know what IL meant 10 clear and
p level AMI place new iand under Guilt
expense and the length Of time ne
cessary before the new farm will pro-
J duce an income. Under these condi-
p tions many mistakes have been made
2 and many discouragements and dis
3 appointments have been encountered.
In view OF all this results are aston
ishing and can only be attributed to
The existence Of an extremely favor
ably combination Of natural condi-
tions. Chief among these are the ex-
IRENE fertility Of the virgin soil and
the excellent drainage which has
made Il impossible for many an in
experienced irrlgator to, drow.. u.
his crops through the injudicious APP
plication Of water The soil varies
rather light sand and ranges from
four to ten feet in depth. The entire
area IS underlaid by a stratum OF
lava rock badly scanned and shatter-
ed. The surface of the land is rolling
in character but there are few slopes
/ so steep that water cannot be handled
| successfully by the usual methods
A chemical analysis Of the soil. and
the experience Of those who have had
an opportunity to make practical /
test Of its fertility shows that it
contains in balanced proportions /
all The elements essential to plant |
growth Like most soils in arid .
regions it's fertility can be increased +
by proper cultivation and fertile alton I
and Intelligent rotation Of crops.
Maximum yields are rarely obtained
until humus has been added by allow
ing it 10 remain in alfalfa sweet peas,
or some other leguminous crop for
two yelrs or longer 1t is true that
excellent yields of grain and potatoes
have been raised on the new land, but
oftentimes these Yields are doubled
or 1rebled after the land has been in
alfalfa. Conditions seem to be ex-
ceptionaly favorable to the raising
of alfalfa. potatoes. barley. wheat
oats ana tame pasture GRASSES. in
GLIDING clover. timothy. bule grass.
etc. Corn has been raised with some
degree of success and will undoubt-
edly become one of the staple crops
as soon as variety adapted To local
conditions has been developed.
Natural conditions are extremely ia
>ortble Tor the raising of an kinds of
vegetables, small fruits and berries
grown in other places IN the same
Aut0ue Apples. prunes and cherries
nave zone remarkably we'll in this
locality and the raising of fruit prom d
,.es TO bee an important industry in
the future So far it has not been 4
made "a speciality on the new lands. -
but there are many promising young i
orchards which will come into bear II
ing within the next two or three years. II
As potato country this section is H
without a rival Although this in II
iustry is comparatively new. Southern II
Idaho potatoes have already estab- II
ished an enviable reputation and III
promises to be an important factor II
n the market from now on. 1t ca. Il
ruthfulN be said that there are few
places where SO many crops can be
aised as successfully as here This III
5 becoming more and more apparent III
IS our farmers gain experience in the
roper methods of cultivation. III
Although the range of farming pos
Utilities here is very wide this is
ssentidlly a stock country and that is
he Industry upon which prosperity in II
he future chiefly depends. 1t lies
I the heart OF one OF the largest HI
heep ranges in the world and its
atural advantages rs sheep coun-
~ are well known While until III
cry recently this business has been i
onducted on a large scale. recent ex-
erience has proven its adaptability to III
lie small farm. This immediate To-
llity is now the winter feeding III
round Tor thousands Of head Of sheep III
hich are pastured on the open range HI
nd in the forest reserve during the III
Immer months. Conditions which Il
ave made the sheep industry profit Il
sle. naturally inspire confidence that
lie raising Of other kinds of livestock
ould be equally successful Results
ready attained connrm this theory.
$ a hog country il has already been
oven that it is second to none. Hogs
Used here have a remarkably hardy
institution ana rarely are afflicted