American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-08-31
ARE DOING THEIR BIT
TO HELP UNCLE SAM
Two MOOnShine Farmers Have 6S5
Acres in Grain Which Promises to
Make Splendid Yield.

on the Moonshine divide. In altitude
and soil conditions this particularly
locality is different from the great
body of farming land in the county.
The altitude is probably in excess of
5000 feet, and the soil is more gen.
erously supplied with humus from the
decaying of luxurious vegetation
throughout the ages, than the average
land. These factors tend toward bet
ger than average yields, and in some
nen might encourage careless
methods. 1t will be noted, however,
that Messrs. Stephens and Clark do
not depend upon favorable conditions
for success, but employ the best
methods known to them to insure
success
Mr.. Stephens is a newcomer. Mr..
Clark, Oh the contrary, was one of the
early settlers of the Moonshine coun-
try, and after having made a splendid
farm concluded that he could do bet
ter in Illinois, and returned there.
But in less than a year he was back
in Idaho, renting the place he had
sold, and intends to stay.
H. L. Stephens and j. NJ. Clark
jointly lease $50 acres from A. NJ.
Durkee. The ranch is located about
eight miles east of American Falls, in
the MOonshine section. The ranch
was leased last fall and this years
crop overs 225 acres of Turkey Red
and Bluestem wheat and 10 acres of
barley, beside the garden tracts. The
spring wheat promises a yield of
around is bushels per acre, while the
winter wheat has been injured by the
mustard pest to some extent. Last fall
SIS acres were seeded to Gold Coin
wheat and this was winter-killed,
necessitating reseeding. The barley
field looks especially we'll and
promises a yield of fully 35 bushels
per acre. 1t is clear of weeds, as is
the stand of Bluestem, and both the
gentlemen operating the farm are
-ftrong advocates of spring blowing
and seeding. They believe that if all
the farmers would go into the raising
of spring wheat on spring plOwed
ground it would go far in eliminating
the weeds. This method would have
to be pursued for two years to give it
a thorough test.
Mr.. Stephens has a 32O-acre home
stead neal Cerro Grande. in Bingham
county, and leases $40 acres of reser-
walton land. On the latter tract he
will put in $50 acres of winter wheat,
and probably an equal acreage of
spring wheat and barley. He will
make his permanent home on the
homestead, which was taken up in
June 1916. and he intends to make a
good farm of it.
Cultivation VS.. Weeds.
While he has not been engaged as
a farmer a great length of time in the
dry land territory, yet he has opin-
ions formed by experience and by the
study of the methods of others which
he will put into actual practice. For
summer fallow he believes that the
ground should be plowed at least five
TO six inches deep, followed by double
discing right after the blowing. Di-
rectly before the seeding the harrow
should again be brought into use.
Whenever a rain comes along after
the seed is put in the harrow should
be taken over the land, this being one
of the best means of getting rid of
weeds and to hold the moisture. He
will hereafter do his blowing and one
narrowing simultaneously by attach
a harrow to the pillow, this necessitat-
ing the addition of one horse only. He
realizes the absolute necessity of con-
serving the moisture and the elimina-
ton of the weeds. For that reason he
advocates and practices the frequent
use of harrow and disc. For spring
blowing he goes to a depth of three to
four inches, followed by double har-
rowing. In seeding only clean wheat,
having undergone treatment for smut,
should be used. The government for
mula for the treatment of smut is
used, one pint of formaldehyde to 40
gallons of water. Mr.. Stephens is
very emphatic in his statements re-
garding the weed situation, and al
though his homestead is located in an
other county he will cooperate with
his neighbOrs on this side of the line
to get rid of the pest. 1t has to be
done. if wheat and other grains are to
survive.
Mrs. stephens takes an especial
pride in the garden which surrounds
the little farm home on the leased
tract. Everything usually raised in a
garden is there, and also some pro-
ducts that are not raised in every gar
den on dry farm land. The Early Ohio
n Carmen potatoes are giving an eX-
cellent yield, the first named variety
having been represented on the family
table since the middle of July. A bean
called the Early WaX-yielding a vel
low products found to grow best in
the garden. Carrots, spinach. turnips
onions, lettuce. beets and rutabagas
all have yielded well. Several vines
Of cantalOupes are growing fine anC
barring an early frost will add to the
delights of the family table. Mrs. Ste.
phens has preserved some dry lane
cucumbers in a jar and they presen.
so fine an appearance that a promise
has been exacted that they will be ex,
hibited at the county fair with other
preserved products of the garden.
Conserving Wild Foods.
Servis berries, choke cherries anC
wild gooseberries grow in such pro.
fusion in the nearby brush of the hill.
~E.# ~. g.-.sUa-. -n