American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-08-17
PIONEER DRY FARMER TELLS
HOW HE BROUGHT SUCCESS
Methods OF Cultivation and Rodent
determination That May Help
Others.

determination That May Help
Others.
Frank r.. Meadows is one of the most
successful wheat growers in Power
county. The methods he employs to
insure success are of nor than pas
sing interest. They are accepted as a
guide by many, and might be adopted
With profit by all who are not meeting
with reasonable success. Mr.. Mea-
dows has successfully cOmbatted two
menace that confront almost every
farmer-weeds and rodent pests. His
methods Of cultivation are the large
factor in combating the former and a
persistent poison campaign has rid
him of the rodents. This year he had
to use less poison on his 1900 acres
than many farmers require on a single
acre. What he has done others can
do.
To Mr.. Meadows more than any
other farmer, is due the great de-
velopment that has taken place in
Power county. He is the pioneer dry
farmer, and the elevators and ware
houses of the county are in a way
monuments to his courage and enter
prise. Others may have planted small
fields of wheat before he came, but it
was he who overcame skepticism and
demonstrated that wheat could be
prOftably grown here with out irri-
cation. His farm was a demonstration
farm for years, where every prospec-
tive hOmeseeker was taken, to prove
the claims Of productiveness made. II
was Mr.. Meadows who first put an o.
K. on the great tract west of Snake
river-before a furrow had been turn
ed. AS a result the big Dry Farm
was started, and today the section west
of the river is the most uniformly de-
veloped section of the county.
The ranch of Mr.. Meadows is locat-
ed about twelve miles south and east
of American Falls and the ranch is
around 5000 feet above sea level. II
embraces the original 200-acre home
stead filed on in February, 1907, two
years after he first began operations
on leased state land. At the present
~{i1ne Mr.. Meadows farms about l2Ol
acres, part of which is leased land. II
addition he has 200 acres in pasture
DOubters Convinced.
When Mr.. Meadows located on his
homestead and announced that he in
tended to engage in wheat raising OF
the dry land tract he met with no en-
couragement. In fact, people WHIT
preceded him tried in every way t.
discourage him in his venture. Never
theless. the newcomer proceeded Il
go ahead. He built a 14x16 log cabin
covered it with a dirt roof, and ar
ranged it to serve as a dwelling TO
himself and his family. as we'll as L
store seed grain and horse feed. TIL
little cabin still stands on the origina
site. and is now devoted to the storag
of seed grain and feed exclusively,
fine residence being occupied by tn
family.
The homestead has been converte
from a sagebrush waste to one OF tn
most productive, as we'll as instructive
ranches in the state. His first Gro
of dry land wheat-90 acres-wa
photographed and the pictures SCI
to the wheat belt in the state of WASH
ington and as a result many farmer
of that state located in this count,
aiding greatly in its development
After the Second crop was harveste
NJ. E. Walker, now farming on I'll
Operated First Steam Pillow.
" the ranch. This partnership continl
ed three years. The activities of NJ
Meadows in getting results from dl
land wheat raising were recognize
in a short time, and W. H. PhilbriC
requested him to cross the Snake riv'
to the west side and try out the sc
in that section on the lines of Whe
raising. He went across with a sadd
horse and camp outfit. and his eXpei
y ments brought forth what was know
as "The Big Dry Farm" now cut
into smaller tracts, and the settlil
up of that section by farmers.
Methods That Bring Success.
The third season on his home ran.
the blowing was done with steam pc
er. The same method was for sol
time employed ON the Big Dry Farm
This was the first steam ploWing do
in the county. About twenty acr
per day were turned under.
Cause. as a rule goes before effe
and it is therefore proper that t
causes producing the fine effects
this ranch be stated first. Mr.. Ne
. dOws studied out the conditions &C
fronting him i'm this section and fou
that many of them were adverse.
he concluded that since there is
remedy for every evil. proper methC
would bring success. He planted
crop OF wheat and watched resu.