American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-08-10
FARMS THOUSAND ACRES.
Winner OF Medals and Ribbons Is
Modest in RecOunting Achieve
mentS.

Although he is the winner of medals
and ribbons that any farmer would
have a right to feel proud of, William
Mcknight is not one of Power
tvs leading farmers. He a y so him
self, and he ought to know. Never
theless he is farming a thousand
acres, is progressive in his methods,
is making good financially, and is re-
garded by his neighbors as one of the
county's most successful and deserv-
ing farmers.
The ranch of Mr.. Mcknight is To-
Gated seven miles south and east of
American Falls on Cold creek. The
methods of Mr.. Mcknight in getting
results in dry farming on a ranch at
an altitude of around 5000 feet have
caused hin to be recognized as n of
the leading farmers of the county. His
methods are the result of study and
experiments, comparison with the re-
suits obtained by others operating
farms under similar conditions, and
cooperation with the farm bureau and
the county agent. The principal aim
of Mr.. Mcknight is to conserve mois-
ture in the ground. He has devised
and carried out a system of working
the ground that has given him all
the results aimed at. He puts the
ground in summer fallow and then
goes over the ground again and gives
it a course of double-discing, accom-
plishing this in one operation by run
ming the discs tandem. This will
loosen the ground thoroughly to a
depth of from two to four inches, more
in places. This will be followed by
1..-msA- A-s.- ff Asr.. narvaffc
Then the ground is plowed-real
plowing-not scratching. The pillow is
set to go down from six to eight inches.
His experience is that by this method
the moisture is conserved in the
ground. He has found in very dry
seasons that moisture in ground thus
treated will extend nearly to the sur
face. Mr.. Mcknight gives unstinting
credit for the admirable results OBJ
tanned on his ranch in raising prize
grains to deep blowing. This is his
mainstay. This theory of thoroughly
stirring the ground was arrived at by
observation. About seven years ago
he examined the hills of loose and
pulverized soil thrown up by badgers
: digging their dens in the ground. The
examination was made in an extreme
ly dry season, yet in stirring the hills
up but a few inches moisture was en-
countered. This led to the conclusion
that if pulverized soil in such places
would hold moisture it must follow
that it would do so in other parts OF
the ranch, and the result is that o
the entire acreage IN the ranch de-
voted to the growing of crops is thus
treated. In the matter of raising po-
tatoes, corn and other produce re
quiring more detailed cultivation after
growth than grains the hoe is brought
into requisition, stirring the sol
around each individual plant or hill
of plants. This is in line with thu
doctrine of keeping the ground loos'
and open. Keeping weeds from fell
and seed is another factor that is no
overlooked on this ranch. Mr.. Nc
Knight takes the stand that the mail
thing is to keep seed absolutely clear
and that the crop will then be ia
easier to handle. One may go almos
anywhere on this ranch and find tina
the misunderstanding theory of tn
owner is correct. Stir up the soil any
where in the cultivated area and with
in a few inches of the surface moistur
will be found. The present stand c
grains and garden plants is eloquen
testimony to the effectiveness of tn
methods employed.
This ranch embraces the originf
homestead of Mr.. Mcknight. filed 0
in 1909. Later he acquired by pun
chase another quarter section of Ian
adjoining, the homestead Of JOSEF
Wood. He also farms $50 acres
leased land. of which 40 acres is stat
land adjoining the home ranch. I'll
balance of the leased land cOnsis'
of a Of a quarter section of patente
land and 4SO acres on the Fort Ha
reservation. This makes a total
1000 acres farmed by Mr.. McKnigh
all of it is dry farm land.
OF this a grand total of about 81
acres is in cultivation, wheat beiI
the principal crop. This veal s.
acres are seeded to wheat alone. VIII,
Mr.. Mcknight first engaged in d
farming here he raised principal
Gold Coin and Sonora wheat, but nc
he has gone in for Turkey Red
winter wheat and Bluestem for spril
wheat. He has raised forty bushe
of Turkey Red on summer fallow.
1914 he harvested an average of
bushels per acre in Turkey Red RAJ
ed on leased land after the crop h
been put through the trials of fro
and hail.
Wins Ribbons and Medals.
On his 1914 samples of Turkey R
exhibited at the Panama-Pacifc
ternational exposition at San Franc
co he was awarded a silver medal a
diploma. This wheat came into co
petition with other wheat from nei
ly every state in the union. not spec
ing of Canada and Australia-col
tries that have acquired a we'll mel
ed reputation as growing fine whe
Mr.. Mcknight is justified in TAX
pride in winning over these compt
tors. In 1915 he won second a