The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-01-21
PROFITABLE MEETINGS
FOR FARMERS
Paul Kefauver Gives Resume of
Conventions of State
Associations.
By Paul F. KefauYer.

oy oAl hCldufCI-
Last week the State horticultural
/ Society, the State Dairy Association
and the State Swine Breeders Asso-
{ citation met in conventions in Boise
The town was full Of farmers, and
the writer picked up few ideas
which are worth publishing for the
benefit of those who could not at
/ tend.
First. Great interest is being de-
veloped in stock raising, and men who
know say that 10 place in the world
can surpass southern Idaho in natural
/ advantages for the breeding and de-
velopment of fine horses, cattle, sheep
or swine. Horses show unusual STAN
ina and endurance, live long and do
not go blind as in most sections.
Dairy cows do unusually well here.
Second. The war in Europe has
wiped out Belgian and French stall
lions and almost those of England.
We may expect an unusual demand
and very high prices for animals of
this kind as well as for all general
utility horses.
Third. Every indication is favor
able to the growth of the dairy indus
try in the United States and in south
ern Idaho especially. The business,
when well managed, pays well, affords
employment and pay the year round,
and is probably the very best means
of enriching the soil. The silo is
generally commended as very great
help to the dairy industry in south
Idaho 1t is important, however, that
the silage be cut fine and well packed
in the silo. Corn silage and alfalfa
hay make the best known forage ra-
tion for dairy cows.
Fourth. The attendance at the
Horticultural Society meetings was
good, and the consensus of opinion
among the growers seemed to be that
the present depression in that indus
try would eventually rebound to the
benefit of the careful and efficient 4
growers, in good locations, by weed
ing out the careless, inefficient and
badly located fellows, who annually
flood the market with inferior fruit, I
depress prices and discourage con-
sumption. The common farmer is GO
ing out of the business and the sooner
the better for all concerned.
Fifth. Experience is working out
methods of cheapening production,
better management, better distribu-
ton and better varieties. Cheapness
is largely increasing the consumption
of good apples also. Experiments
have shown that if good apples could
be put into the hands of the people
of the United States at 81 to S1.25
per box that they would consume
such a bumper crop as that of last
year in from 10 to II weeks, and
that this distribution ought to be
effected at a profit to the grower OF
20 to % cents per box, which is good
enough. Reference is had to very
paper on this subject, pre-
pared by Editor Sheppard, which will
appear soon in Better Fruit,
and to addresses made by Mr.. Ste
phens of Nampa and Mr.. Higley of
Payette.
Sixth. 1t has been shown that clo-
YER and alfalfa seed production is usu-
ally very profitable in Idaho, and
much interest is being aroused there
in. The Twin Falls district is said
to have exported over one hundred
carloads of clover seed last year and
much seed is also being produced in
The Boise and Payette districts. The
average yield of seed when properly
grown is from eight to twelve bushels
Der acre, about four times as much
IS the average yield in most sections.
The demand seems to be unlimited and
he price is usually good for clean
seed. 1t is a crop which can be held !
lnIll prices are SOou, WiiSh AtSiSi :
loes not eat up and which improves I
he soil. 1t is evidently going to de-
7elop largely and do its share IN
prosperity to all this sec
ion. Alsace clover natures its seed
n the first crop, is out of the way
,efore the very hot, dry part of the
eason and does not require near as
much water as does red clover The
eed of this clover is in demand, as 1t
S found to succeed on many lands IN
he East, which will not grow red
lover.
The agricultural extension depart
nent strongly recommends seed pro-
uction of various kinds, as appar-