American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-10-26
By 1.-THE PILGRIM" .

thoroughly I'm the spring and then
seeded. Like other farmers, Mr.. Bow
en- realizes the futility of preparing
summer fallow in the best n
possible, expanding time and money
on it, only to raise a crop Of weeds in
the spring. Cooperation Of all farm
ers in spring blowing, or spring cul-
tivation and seeding of summer fallow
and fall plowed land. is absolutely
necessary to get rid of the masses of
weeds, especially Jim Hill mustard,
which are contesting for supremacy
with the cereals. 1t is only in the last
three years that mustard has ap-
peared on Mr.. Bowen's ranch. and the
owner has fought it persistently with
harrow and hoe. He, too, has had to
contend with the conditions brought
about by owners of homesteads aban-
dOning the same to weeds of all sorts
instead of cultivating them.
Irrigated Alfalfa Does Well.
On this ranch 25 acres are devoted
to the growing of alfalfa, 10 acres
planted in 1906 and the balance in
1911. These fields are irrigated and
always yield two crops and in some
years three, the average tonnage per
acre from all cuttings being from
three to three and a half tons. The
water for the irrigation of these fields
is taken from Knox creek, the rights
to the stream being owned by an asso-
citation of water users. The big al
falfa stacks in the hay yard of this
ranch are the best evidence that irri-
gated alfalfa does exceedingly we'll in
this mountain country. Mr.. Bowen
has 20 acres additional all prepared
and ready for seeding to alfalfa next
spring.
The garden on this ranch always
produces early and late vegetables in
bOuntiful yields, potatoes doing es-
pecially well. Cabbages have been
raised here by Mrs. Bowen that turned
the scales at 10 pounds. This year a
hail storm beat the potato vines to the
ground, but the second growth pro-
duced a good crop nevertheless. In
all the years that Mr.. Bowen has lived
on his ranch the hail of early July
this year has never been even remotely
approached in severity and destructive
ness. Not only the gardens, but or
chard trees and the grain fields were
injured. Notwithstanding the unwel-
come visitation the garden, under the
care of Mrs. Bowen, has yielded plen-
ty for the household. Berry bushes
added their yield to the vegetables and
the nearby canyons we're full of wild
fruits this year. In the orchard
stands a big elderberry tree-tree is
nearer correct than bush-which. like
Topsy, lust growed." Mr.. Bowen has
watched its growth from year to year
and declines to venture a guess as tc
the quantity of berries which have
been picked from its branches in the
course of years. The berries are pre-
served and used in a variety of ways
Up in Buck Wright canyon. two mile.
to the south, e%lderberries grow in pro.
fusion, and each year Mrs. Bower
gathers and preserves quantities Of
them.
Plants First Apple Trees.
The first apple trees in the orchard
were set out in 1896, and from the
first year that they were in bearing
have always given a fair yield, and il
many seasons the yield was far beyond
the average of a mountain orchard
This orchard has been CAREFUL!
guarded against all sorts of enemies
and it's growth has been aided by irri
CATION from the beginning. Probabl.
the most injurious enemy the tree
had TO be guarded against are tn,