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

thirteen acres that will completely
hide any team in the state. That veal
Mr.. Gabbert cut p wagonloads of hay
from two and three-quarter acres of
the oats field mentioned above. In
1913 he had a total of "a acres of
wheat, barley and oats and threshed
1910 bushels of grain. Last year he
had a total of 917 bushels of grain of
all kinds. AS an instance of how the
snow hangs around late in the spring
Mr.. Gabbert mentioned that on July Z
of this year he went to the summit of
the divide and gathered in enough
snow to freeze a quantity of ice
cream. OF course, combined with the
rich black mountain loan this sub
irrigation of the late SHOWS and the
creeks accounts for the wonderful pro-
ductiveness of the soil here. But the
methods of cultivating the soil as later
set forth herein have a good deal to
do with the fine averages obtained on
this ranch.
The garden proper embraces an
acre, and a half acre more is given over
to potatoes. This garden contains
everything from lettuce to squash and
the yields obtained this year leave
nothing to be desired. The surplus
has been dried and preserved for flu
ture use on the family table. Jehu
corn, a variety imported from North
Dakota, natures here, and sweet corn
planted for a trial last spring is doing
well. All the garden seed, including
corn and potatoes, was planted late in
June and all was raised by dry farm
methods and the best of yields garn-
cred. This speaks volumes for the
fertility of the soil up here.
AS for wild fruit, the gulches and
little canyons are full of it, and so
prolific is the growth this year that
it. is not possible for the farmers to
pick and preserve all of it.
Fall Flowing for Spring Seeding.
Mr.. Gabbert is continuously break
ing new ground and if blowing this
new acreage in the fall for spring
seeding, he goes to a depth of six
inches, letting the ground lay in the
rough until spring. This finds the
ground soft and mellow in the spring,
and as soon as weather conditions per-
NIT the harrow is put over it several
times before seeding. When blowing
is done in the spring for immediate
seeding he goes only four to five inches
deep. He finds that if he exceeds this
depth the soil gets too dry before the
roots of the grain plants get to a solid
footing, stunning the growth. This
rancher is a firm believer in the ever
lasting use of the harrow and in roll
ling the ground after seeding in the
spring. The rolling packs the ground,
| holds tho pnnfcfTro an1 paalrnc tho
grain easier to cut.
Grows Wild Rye Hay.
While Mr.. Gabbert cuts some wild
hay on his ranch he does not hold a
very high opinion of it as a forage
for the stock. He will add to his hay
crop next year by seeding four acres
to wild rye. This is a native plant
of the mountain lands and is not in
jured by frosts, nor will the green
stand bloat stock. Nearly five bushels
of the seed have been gathered and
cleaned. Experiments with the hay
have shown that horses and COWS
thrive on it and that a ready market is
found at premium prices. 1t gives
two annual crops and pasture.
Five head of horses comprise the
work bunch, two of them half Bel
gians. Mr.. Gabbert likes the Belgian
strain and praises them as a natural
worker. AS a matter of fact, he likes
mules better on a dry farm than he
does horses, but he states that they
must be kept either in the harness OF
in the stall. He says that a mule thai
is not a confirmed rover in forbidden
places, a consistent kicker and an in
dulger in the pleasant habit of fence
jumping is not a real mule. These
playful habits have prevented hin
from replacing his horses with mules
One seven-eights Shorthorn cow anC
two graded heifers comprise the dairy
herd. Besides supplying the home
with butter and cream, a quantity o
cream is every month marketed. Boil
Mr.. and Mrs. Gabbert are believers il
i the economical Qualities of a dair,