Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-05-05
STATE farm NEAR
! NANPA IS MODEL
OF EFFICIENCY
Under Scientific Manage
ment 80-acre Tract Made
Very Productive-Build-
ing Still Uncompleted.

Nampa, May 5.-Nowhere Is 1t more
highly evidenced that farming Is a
science and that demonstrations con-
stitute the life-g giving fluid of the pro-
gress necessary under constantly
changing agricultural, industrial and
commercial conditions than at the state
farm in proximity to this city which
was purchased by the state some years
ago as the location for home for its
feeble minded. Thoughtful observation
emphasizes the fact that this farm is
under the superintendent Of man
who with tn. fullest measure Of en-
thusiasm is teaching out3ide of books
and independent of them the vital es-
sentials of agriculture. Not only is
Alexander Wilson, the superintendent,
to whom reference is made, illustrating
In practical way that the soil must be
studied in a rational way before an eff
fective system of improvement can be
made ;Ad that better farming means
more education, but the more educa-
ton means the application of more
scientific methods with better profits
without increased cost of production.
Indeed, this farm which means so much
to Nampa as well as to the entire state.
and which may well be termed 'Idaho's
demonstration farm" is doing as much
IL not more than any other agricultural
factor for the advancement of that in
dustry along modern and progressive
lines in this state at the present time.
Through practice, instead of theory,
It is teaching the farmers of this rec
ton of the state that the fertility of
the soil is the farmers capital, that 1t
should not be allowed to decrease in its
fertility, and as to the best methods of
preventing this. 1t is simplifying and
making plain the wisdom of diversifi-
cation, evidencing that more signifi-
canoe should be attached to the in
creased yield per acre than to the in
creased acreage of the crop. In brief, it
is bringing home to the farmers in
forceful and COZ incing manner that if
the farmers expect their farms to feed
them they must feed Their farms.
Agricultural REGENERATION.
From such object lessons in the field
of agriculture in this state is coming
general agricultural rejuvenation
Where there were once deserts of sage
brush, parching winds and discouraged
farmers confronted by ruin there are
now modern farm home. fertile fields
and prosperous and happy farmers
However the beneficial propaganda for
a change in farming along scientific
lines by Mr.. Wilson and men OF his
type in a land which for too long SEEM
ed to resist them has been highly pro-
ductiye of results. and each day Is
gaining momentum of such proportions
rs to justify the belief that at no dis
tant day, Idaho will be on an equal
plane of comparison as regards the
practice of scientific agriculture with
any of her sister states. Two of the diff
ficult problems which confronted Mr..
Wilson in first experiments. and the
solutions of which are demonstrated by
him through demonstration crops, were
those of improving the soil and retain
ing the moisture. The first was ac-
complished by placing a coating of
Stacked lime over the heavy clay soil
and the second by scattering straw
over the land, This coating was placed
on the land in the proportion of two
tons to the acra. and comparison of
two strips of land in the same field and
adjacent to each other, 5oth In barley,
upon one of which this process was
followed, and the other was not pur-
sued abundantly evidences of the lime,
as the land upon which the coating of
lime was placed has an unexcelled crop
while the other strip Is almost barren
The lime coating is two fold in it's eff
fectiveness. 1t both improves the soil
and serves for the retention of mois-
ture which Is the greatest difficulty
confronting the average farmer The
placing of straw upon the lands oper-
ates for the retaining of the moisture
also.
All Waste Matter Used.
All refuse waste matter from the
barns is utilized for the upbuilding of
the land and every possible phase of
soil enriching is thoroughly practiced.
Following this work, a perfect seed bed
of the land was accomplished by level
ing the land with a fresno, then plow-
Ing 1t to depth of eight inches then
disking 1t thoroughly twice, then har-
rowing it, then Ieveling 1t each way
again, after which the seed was drilled
into the ground. Not only does the lime
enrich the soil, but ii prevents the land
from baking and retains the moisture,
SO greatly needed later. TIL, increase in
the yield of the land after this treat
ment Las been phenomenal, and the
lessons CLEANED from this method of
cultivation has not been without their
effect upon the tributary country, for
II has focused the attention of farmers
upon the demonstrations made. In
harmony with Mr.. Wilson's idea of the
diversification of crops being essential
to success In farming, his crops are
diversified. OF the S0-acre farm there
is % acres in alfalfa, 20 acres in bar
ley, six acres in pasture six acres in
clover. two acres in berries of different
varieties. four and half acres in peas
and elk and half acres in wheat Ten