American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-10-23
THE ORCHARD RANCH.
Dorsey b. Martin Makes Success OF
Fruit Growing in Crystal Country

Short distances in mountainous dis
tricts show great variations in climatic
conditions. The Crystal district is sur
rounded by mountains on all sides,
with canyons leading in many direc-
tons, and with attitudes ranging from
about 5000 to 5000 feet or more. In
tits small territory there is quite a
variation in temperature. Frost is less
of a menac than in most parts of the
county, and is little met with in some
of the most favored sections of the
Crystal settlement. That's why Crys-
tai has an Orchard Ranch.
Sax miles southeast of Crystal, on
FNftlesnake Creek, Dorsey B. Martin
owns a quarter section of farm land,
this being the former homestead of a
Mr.. Hyatt whose REIMBURSEMENT was
bought in 1914. When Mr.. Martin
moved to the ranch all he found in the
way of improvement was a house. No
attempt at clearing s%agebrush had
been made. The new owner went to
work with such earnestness Of endea-
vor that in the space Of three years
he is justified in giving the ranch a
distinctive name-The Orchard Ranch.
At present los acres are in cultiva-
ton and summer fallow, wheot raising
being the main object. Mr.. Martin pins
his faith to Turkey Red for winter
wheat. This year he had in an ere of
Black Russian wheat, the seed for
which was imported direct from Rus
STA. This is a bearded hard winter
variety with a red berry. The stand
at the time this was written, the mid
die of September, showed a height Of
16 inches with we'll filled heads four
to five inches long. Competent judges
who have seen the wheat say that
under adverse conditions it will yield
35 bushels per acre and under normal
conditions should give 40 to As bushels
per acre. 1t will not be killed under
the winter conditions prevalent on
this ranch, being exceedingly hardy,
and requires only half a bushel of
seed to the acre. 1t carries a luxuri-
ant foliage and furnishes more than
a normal amount. of hay. The native
place in Russia of the wheat is at an
elevation of 5000 feet, about CORES
ponding to the altitude of the ranch
of Mr. Martin. Of the 65 acres in wheat
this year on this ranch all but 25 acres
of Sonora was winter wheat. The
ylelQ IN norman years NOuSlSleulls
runs about 35 bushels to the acre.
The garden under the personal care
of Mrs. Martin has always produced
fine yields and this year is no excep-
ton to the rule. Much of the product
has been preserved and dried, in adj
dition TO the quantities of wild fruit
put up. The Blue Monarch potatoes
raised on their first trial this year
have done so well that hereafter this
variety only will be grown on this
ranch. The seed was treated for
scab by using a Is per cent solution
of formaldehyde, the potatoes being
left in the solution for a period of 80
minutes. 1t is important to remem-
Der that after being immersed they
must be spread u to dry.
Young Orchard Thriving.
In the spring of 1916 an orchard OF
so apple trees was set out and a few
apricot trees added. The trees were
selected with a view to their adapt
ability TO the climate, the apple va
rieties being Jonathan. Early Harvest
YA4Ow Transparent and Wealthy. The
orchard has been irrigated to some
extent by carrying water to the tree;
twice each year since set out. Mex
spring an addition al 800 fruit trees vii
be set out, and it will be readily seer
that this ranch was named in an ap
propriate name when called the
Orchard ranch.
Mr.. Martin has not achieved sue