American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-03-05
WILL SPECIALIZE IN HOGS AND
SHEEP.

~ l. Us EHNE
filed on a 32O-acre homestead in the
dry farm section of Power county.
nine miles west Of Aberdeen and one
mile from the Bingham county line.
The fact that his ranch is located 50
near the line is mentioned thus early
in this sketch for the reason hat it
is desired to impress upon the reader
that Power county lays full claim to
this dry farmer and his prize-winning
activities.
The intention of Mr.. Carpenter is to
devote his ranch principally to rails
ing hogs and sheep. His 320-acre
tract is covered with a variety of ma
tive wild grasses which grow in pro-
fusion and to a height sufficient to
Weld excellent tonnages of hay. The
native grasses grow to a height Of II
10 Is inches, and last year a neigh
Dor cut five big loads of hay from
about ten acres. The soil is a sandy
loan, with hardpan underlying it at
an average depth Of about two feet.
The owner of the ranch is going to
take the tip of Mother Nature and
utilize as hay the product so layishly
offered him. HIS is convinced that it
will be many a year before the hog
market will recede to a figure where
il will be no longer possible 70 prof
itablv raise the four-footed mortgage
filters. He is likewise convinced that
the wool and mutton market will hold
out at a good figure for quite a while.
At any rate, he is going to TAX a
chance at diversified ranching and
make hog and sheep raising his prin-
cipal occupation. The soil has been
tested as to moisture-holding quail
ties and has not beer found wanting
in that regard. Sole reliance for fod-
der will not be placed on the wild
grasses. by any means. Dry land al
falfa will be grown on a considerable
scale. and Sudan grass has been tried
out with results so satisfactory that
the acreage devoted to it will be in
creased this spring.
Sudan Grass Does Well.
Last spring one pound of Sudan
grass seed was drilled in prepared
ground. Late in August the stand
was cut, having reached a height Of
six feet, and a ton and a half of good
hay was stacked. After the cutting
the grass again grew to a height of
eight inches and gave the finest kind
Of pasture until the frosts came. SUI
dan grass is an annual plant and II
properly handled will give at least
two cuttings each season. On dry
farms it should be planted in rows and
be regularly cultivated to conserve
the moisture and keep weeds out OF
the fields. Mr.. Carpenters horses and
COW have been given rations OF alfal-
ia and Sudan grass, and they eat the
latter as readily as they do the form
er: sheep and hogs likewise show a
decided liking for the fodder. Il
the Sudan grass was grown on lane
strictly dry farm is well attested tc
by the fact that in the vicinity of thi;
ranch wells are sunk TO a great deptf
before a flow of water is encountered
The nearest well to this ranch is 10
Gated a mile to the east and is 462 fee
deep: it will be readily seen that n(
camouflage is practiced when dry
farming is referred to in speaking o
ranching in this neck o the sage
brush domain.
food Bean Crop.
Every year since filing on the home
stead MIR. and Mrs. Carpenter havt
had a garden and from the beginnln'
Tie NltAQS VI al COANo VI 49, -
duce have exceeded expectations. II
addition to the fertility of the soil IN
practice of good cultivation and weed
ing gets its full share of credit. Beets
carrots, satisfy (oyster plant), sWee
corn. cucumbers. cantaloupes ana wa
termelons gave plentiful yields. IN
seed for the melons was rough Il
from Colorado. One of the watermel
one grown last year in this garde'
weighed "a pounds; if any doubun
Thomas thinks that the figure Is
trifle e~xtravagant the writer will wa
ser a war savings stamp or two tina
i. can be verified by " or three dis
interested parties. CAS- a matter Z
fact. attention of the writer was cal
ed 10 this daddy of all dry land water
melons by others than the grower G
the melon.) Beans of all varietie
gave good crops. In 1915 Mr.. Carper
ter raised a r of Tepary beans, tn
premier dry land bean. which yielde
an income equivalent to S125 per acr'
First Prize Potatoes.
From about half an acre - sacks
Early Rose. Early Ohio and Idaho ri
raj potatoes were harvested. Hug
Carpenter.the ~14-year-Old son, Is
member of the Potato Club OF "a
Aberdeen public school and last yea
had personal charge Of an eighth
an acre of Early Rose potatoes. :
well did he take care Of the patch th'
al the exhibit Of the club member
work and its products he won mr.
prize on dry land potatoes. the war
being five dollars in the coin OF Il
realm. The lad will be in the mel
rather the potato patch, again Il
forthcoming season; but the patch vi
be somewhat larger than an eighth
an acre.
Yellow flint corn was given a tri
and it did not disappoint this rancl
er. Home made hominy is on the 81