American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-11-30

being overcome by the. weeds. A
strata of ate underlies the bottoms
on this ranch at a depth of from eight
to ten feet and it takes about three
years for the alfalfa roots to get down
to the water; but once they have
reached the water, the growth is
splendid and steady. The first cutting
is usually made right after the fourth
of July. the stand then being about
three feet high; the second cutting is
made from August II to Is, the stand
being about the same height. The
big stacks in the barn yard prove
the wisdom of this rancher in grow
ing this valuable hay. Next spring
the alfalfa acreage will be increased
by more than 80 acres, and ultimately
OF the total of 200 acres of bottoms on
this ranch a full 125 acres will be in
ailfalfa-every acre of it dry land.
While dry land alfalfa has been an ex-
pertinent here in the past. Mr.. Ripley
now considers it an accomplished fact
and is convinced that he is right and
is going ahead on a large scale. Be
sides raising it for hay he is sure now
that he can successfully grow it for
seed. For his hay crops he seeds
about Is pounds to the acre, it being
desirable to get a stand not too thick.
The ground is prepared a year before
the seeding by practically summer fall
lowing it, getting a first class seed
bed and putting in the seed as early
as possible in the spring; it is essen
tial that the ground be moist when the
seed is put in. These methods have
brought success here. During the in
tense hay shortage last winter Mr..
Ripley had hay for sale when many
ranchers had to haul in prOvender for
their stock from points many miles
away, and paid an exorbitant price for
it. This fall a good many loads have
been sold from this ranch, both from
the fields and from the stacks, and
at no eXorbitant rates.
Mr.. Ripley was glad to hear that his
old friend, Frank Kluck, over on Sun
beam creek, is meeting with success
in growing dry land alfalfa. Mr.. Rip
ley formerly operated a sawmill in tho
Moonshine country and when Mr.
Kluck located on his homestead VI
Sunbeam way the material in the
lumber line for his dwelling was fur.
nished by the mill. The dimension
stuff for the Evans and West build
ings in American Falls. ONE 10000
feet, also from this mill.
A small garden under the supervis
ion of Mrs. Ripley produced an excel
lent yield of cabbage, carrots, turnips
beets,, onions, parsnips and other veg
/, etables. This garden was irrigated
,,v "a rnrfuo opd tho U-nll-fillnd hin
in the cellar are evidence that it pay
to give the required attention to Tn
l tract devoted to the growing of tn
root crops and vegetables needed i
8 the household. The gooseberry and cur
? rant bushes also gave a fine yielC
thirty quarts of these berries bein
5 put up in cans and two and a hal
e gallons being converted into preserves
= Nineteen quarts of Evergreen straw
berries were put up. The potat
= patch. which was irrigated and cult
. waited, supplied more tubers than ar
n required in the household.
@ In the bunch of IA head of wor
n horses on this ranch are some spler
a did high grade Percheron-Norma
Il specimens, a cross of W. of the fore
v most SlIdlUS u uldll nOl W ia
o brood mares are owned by this rancf
er, and the supply of work horses
raised on the home ranch.
The dairy herd numbers ten head
v cows. some of them graded Jersey
If and at present five of them are bein
k MIXED. Butter is regularly marke
n ed, the dairy feature being looked III
It on as of prime importance in the VI
building of this ranch. From seve
cows MIXED during the summ'
4. months 80 to 40 pounds of butter wei
marketed weekly, besides supplyir
l. the home. Dealers are always eag'
If to get the butter made on this ranC
and frequently Mrs. Ripley is paid
r premium over the regular market gu
2. tation. Home made cheese is ais
ID made here. A bunch of calves is groN
Mt ing up and the intention is to great
Id add to the numbers of the dairy her