American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-11-20
LISTED AMONG THE PIONEERS
J. X. Bailey Had Only Four NeighbOrs
When He Located at ArbOn.

]. R. Bailey is entitled to have his
name enrolled among the pioneers of
Power county. While he was several
years behind the first settlers at
American Falls, Neeley and Rockland,
ne was among the first to locate in
Bannock valley, and for twelve years
say little increase in settlement in
his locality. Now he is surrounded by
n%eighbors and cultivated fields, and is
prospecting.
His ranch of $50 acres embraces his
original homestead, filed on as such
in, 1901. Seven years prior to the date
df his homestead filing. in 1894, he took
up a squatter's right to the tract and
lived on it as a squatter until the gov
eminent survey was made. This
ranch also embraces the desert claim
entry of Mrs. Bailey. OF the $50 acres
a total of $50 acres are in cultivation,
275 acres being in summer fallow at
the present time. This year 12O acres
of Turkey Red and 60 acres of Blue
stem and Marquis wheat and barley
were harvested, and a total of 1900
bushels Of grain were threshed. TAX
ing into consideration the adverse con-
ditions of the season, Mr.. Bailey is
satisfied with the yields of his fields.
In past seasons this farm has pro-
duced some excellent yields, 1900
bushels of grain being threshed in
1913. The soil on the ranch is a dark
sandy loan, and at an altitude of
somewhat over 5000 feet 21 crops have
been raised without a total failure.
Mr.. Bailey attributes his success in
mn email nnnaGnpn RI fhn foot fhaf
summer following is constantly prac-
ticed by him. During these q years
the averages per acre vary-some be-
ing good, some not so good-but a
total failure of any crop is o on the
record of the farm.
The plans for 1918 call for every
available acre to be seeded to wheat,
and most of it will be seeded in the
spring on account of the need of com
batting the mustard evil. Mr.. Bailey
is one of the farmers decidedly of the
QpinjlQ hat spring seeding is the
ting to do to overcome the menace
and believes it far better to be sure
of a crop of spring wheat, ever if il
is reduced in acreage, than to seed fal'
wheat and take a chance of losing the
nelds of grain owing to the weeds over
coming the wheat. He states that il
his opinion summer faIlow and fal
plowed land should be seeded in the
spring, and then give the weeds time
TO sprout before going after them will
the disc, barrow and weeder. Discinl
stubble land in the fall to cover tn,
weed seeds and let it sprout in ordel
20 kill the growth more surely is alsC
a good method practiced by him.
About 22 acres of the ranch are il
alfalfa. irrigated from the stream
flowing down Knox canyon. These
fields never fail to give two annua
crops, and now and then they Civ,
three cuttings-this being the cas-,
this ear. The tonnage per acre from
the three cuttings this year amount
TO three and a half, and the big stack.
in the yard look good to the owner al
he awaits the coming of the winter
Mr.. Bailey is convinced that the lowe
lands on his ranch will grow good dr.,
land alfalfa and his intention is to pu
th-belief to the test.
Mr.. Bailey is an advocate of tn,
practice of increasing the depth o
blowing each year until a depth o
nine to ten inches has been reached
thus planting in new soil each yeal
and then starting again with a depth o
only five inches. He follows the ploV
with the harrow, the weeder, the dis
any implement that will get and xii
the noxious growths. The soil i
thoroughly cultivated by the harroV
before seeding, the utmost importanc
being attached to the necessity of get
ting a good seed bed for the grain.
In fall blowing for spring seedin
this rancher sets the pillow to go to
depth of five to six inches, and let
the land lie in the rough until sprin
operations commence. Then tn