American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-10-26

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Mr.. Bowen has surrounded the or
chard with a wire netting fence, but
last winter the snow was so deep that
the hares managed to get over the
fence now and then. The fruit trees
have grown TO immense size and have
been kept pruned and trimmed down,
so that they present a fine symmetrical
appearance. Besides apple trees the
orchard contains cherry and plum
trees, giving a variety of fruits best
adapted to this section.
The shade trees just east of the
home site were set out in 1885, and
consist of Lombardy poplars and elm
trees. the latter a hardwood variety.
All Of them have grown straight, eX-
cept one, and Mr.. Bowen has never
arrived at a satisfactory conclusion
lust why these trees all grew so
straight. When he first located on his
claim he thought that the mountain
lust west of his land would act as a
breaker" of the breeZes. That theory
has not proven correct, for when the
wind blows down that mountain it
frequently takes on a velocity that
causes natives and strangers to refer
TO it in very uncomplimentary terms.
Just the same, the shade and orchard
trees grew straight and trim, and they
stand up there against the mountain
as a land mark and a credit to Pioneer
David ]. Bowen.
Gives Good Cultivation.
Mr.. Bowen has by experience learn
ed that to be successful in dry farm
ing the soil must be prepared correct
ly. For summer fallow he plows not
less than eight inches deep, and the
deeper the ground is plowed the bet
ter results are obtained. The harrow
is used to create the mulch needed TO
conserve the moisture, and when the
weeds show up the harrow and disc
are depended upon to eradicate them.
Just before drilling seed in summer
fallow the harrow is brought into use
again. If the ground is moist enough
Mr.. Bowen always seeds his tall
grain in September. BY doing his
summer following early in the spring
he succeeds in retaining all the mois-
ture required and conserves it by US
ing the harrow un%sparingly. After
drilling in winter wheat he does not
use the harrow again until in the
spring: as soon as the ground is dry
enough he takes the harrow over the
growing grain and this method helps
the grain TO stool better. For fall
blowing for spring seeding he plows
six to eight inches. deep and lets the
land lie in the rought until spring;
the rougher the land is during the
winter the more now it will retain.
Mr.. Bowen has observed that land free
from stubble or %sagebrush will be
blown clear of snow during the winter
with a vastly reduced growing capacity
in the summer as a natural result
He likes to see rough clOds on the falI
plowed land during the winter, be-
cause the clods hold the snow-anc
the more snow can be held the better
will be the moisture reserve in the
spring. In the spring the fall plOwins
is gone over with the harrow and thor
oughly cultivated. After the seed is
drilled in the land is left alone.
For spring blowing for immediate
seeding Mr.. Bowen plows six inches
deep. narrowing right after the pillow
ing. and drilling while the ground il
=, moist. Deep blowing and constan
use Of the harrow are the creates
aids in the conservation of moisture
ana the VI EOoA NAOf@'
For farm work Mr.. Bowen prefer
/, Percheron horses and his work buncl
shows the PercherOn and Clyd'
strains to be predominant. For roa'
work, however, this rancher believe
that a lighter horse of from 1000 q
1900 pounds is preferable. For tn
, long distances to town one day AM
] back the next the heavy draft hors'
? is not best adapted. This rancho
raises all his own horses, keeping M
! the supply needed for the farm ant
4 road work. He owns two high grad
/. Percheron brood mares and his sol
owns one and the bunch of horses /
% being graded to that standard.
At present six COWS Of mixed stocl
J are being MIXED and besides supply
; ing the home with cream and butter
( some of the latter is marketed. From
= Is to is pounds of butter are produces
weekly. Mr.. Bowen intends 10 IN
crease the dairy herd and as he pre-
fers the Durham to any other, belieV
ing it to be the best dual purpose COW
ne will eventually have a herd OF pur'
bred specimens of this strain. A con
siderable number of young calves ar
being raised on the ranch.
Hogs are being raised for home con
sumption only at present, but IN I'M
past they have been probably RAISED
for market shipment. The Duroc-Jer
sey breed is favored. its large frame
and easy %fattening qualifications be
ing the deciding factors. Mr.. Bower
has no doubt that with proper equip
ment as to fences. pasture. feeding ar
rangements. etc, hog raising for mar
ket shipment can be %proftably done
on any ranch in the county.
Mr.. Bowen is a firm advocate OF tn
doctrine that every rancher SHOULD
have a bunch of sheep on his plac,
and had made a start with four head
one night coyotes made a raid on tn
little flock and only one sheep wa.
left the next morning. Coyotes ar
plentiful on the slopes and canyon
of the mountains and they are yer.
bold. Mr.. Bowen will again install !