American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-09-21

yields. Mr.. Rossiter says it is a plea
sure to work this heavy black soil.
The heavy foliage on all grains
grown in the Crystal section is not
missing OF this ranch and it provides
an abundance of good hay for the long
winter months.
One acre of dry land garden pro-
vides the home with a plentitude of
early and late vegetables. Two years
ago a variety of turnips were raised
which grew to exceptional size, two
of them weighing close to ten pounds
each. The garden this year was
planted the last week in June.
Deep Fall Pl0wing.
Only spring grain is grown on this
farm. but all the blowing is done in
the fall if time permits. The pillow is
set to go from seven to eight inches
deep and the soil is permitted to re-
main in the rough until spring. AS
soon as the plowed land is dry enough
in the spring it is gone over with the
harrow and after seeding the crop is
left alone. Every year this rancher
seeds wheat, oats and barley, thus be-
ing sure Of at least some good crop in
the way of a cereal; he figures that if
some misfortune comes in the way of
drought or frost it will be improbable
that all three cereals will be killed
off.
No Mustard Yet, But
At present he has not a mustard
plant on his place but fears that some
of the seed is on the way from the
abandoned and neglected weed ranches
in the valley at the mouth of Cherry
creek. He has very definite opinions
on the weed question and of people
who leave their ranches and let them
degenerate into weed farms.
On this ranch there are quaker as
pen groves in abundance-no ranch in
the Crystal mountain country is with
out them-and they furnish plenty of
fuel and poles. There was a time
when grouse and sage hens were
plentiful here, but gamehOgs some
years ago slaughtered them so ruth
lessly that they are scarce now.
Raising Horses for Market.
There are six work horses on this
ranch, four of them graded Percheron
brood mares. Four colts are growing
up to be eligible to be enumerated in
the bunch in a few years. One spa
Of colts three years old weigh between
1900 and 400 pounds and are fine
specimens of graded PercherOns. This
rancher is raising horses for the mar
ket and will extend this feature of the
ranch gradually. Adjoining his ranch
are 1900 acres of fenced government
land providing fine %pasturage.
The cattle at present number three
head, a between the HOlstein
and Durham strains. This herd, too,
will be enlarged.
The land on this ranch always pro-
duces excellent yields of barley and
Mr.. ROssiter is of the opinion that with
proper fencing, pasturage, grain chop
ping apparatus, and careful manage.
ment no reason whatever exists why
hogs can not be raised on an extensive
scale for market.
Squirrels are a menace to the ranch
ers of Cherry creek. The farmers
fight them with might and main, but
in the vacant tracts and in the govern
ment land nc n is going after them
and as a natural consequence they ov-
errun the fields. There is no differ
ence of opinion in the minds of the
farmers that the pest must be exter-
minated if the land is to continue Civ
ing satisfactory yields.
The family of this rancher will new
er hav TO leave the farm to get all
the choke cherries, servis berries and
wild currants they need for the home,
as all these wild fruits grow in album
dance along the jungles of the creek.
A steam threshing outfit is owned in
partnership with other ranchers. and
when the engine gets to work the
quiet of the canyon is now and then
disturbed by the whistle. But the ma
tives up there are glad to hear it as it
assures them that the annual money
maker is getting ready to go to market.
Mr.. ROssiter is a native of Illinois.
coming to Idaho in 1908. He worked
in PocatellO until 1911, and in that
year filed on his homestead. He
found that the jungle along the creek
was much harder to get rid of thar
the %sagebrush on the flats. Fire was
applied to the stuff. that being the
quickest method of exterminating
these growths. The first crop put in
consisted of 10 acres of wheat, barley
ana oats, and a good yield was har-
vested. On virgin ground the wheat
Went 80 bushels per acre, oats went
81 Dushels, and the two acres of bar
ley gave IA buhels; part of the bar
ley lodged and it was not all cut. That
spring opened early and the winter
did not set in until late. giving a Ions
season with plenty of rain. In 1905
Mr.. Rossiter was married to Miss
jessie e. Bowers, a native of Wiscon-
SIN. In winter the family resides in
Pocateilo to give the advantages OF
the schools there to the children.
The SHOWS get plenty deep on the
ranch, and last winter broke all rec.
ords. 1t was four to five feet deer
on the level and the drifts we're thir.
~ Ieet deep in places. The first snow
Iell the first week in November anC
the last squat came along as late a.
the latter part of May. It was after
July when the last vestige Of snow
disappeared from the ranch. Mr.. Ros
sitter, however, has spent three con.