American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-02-26

Two years 9 R. w. Hillhouse pur-
chased a 42O-acre dry land ranch sew
en- miles northwest of Rockland and
proceeded to put in $40 extra fence
posts, attached a lot of tight wire to
them, and when he was through with
the job he had 12O acres fenced hog
tight. Then he built a good hog house
at a cos of $500. The cost of the ex-
ira fence posts and wire also came to
$500, making a total of $500. At this
stage of the interview Mr.. HillhOuse
stated that all these improvements
have been paid for from the sale OF
hogs on the hOof. Last year this
rancher had seeded 100 acres to win
ter wheat and an equal acreage to
spring wheat. Only one rain came to
his fields, a June rain, and when he
realized the grain would not pay for
the cutting he turned so head of hogs
into the fields and prevented the waste
Of grain by transforming it into pork
on-the-hoOf. Late in August he sold
80 hogs at 1412 cents per pound on the
hoof. the revenue-makers weighing
from 40 to $50 pounds. and one of
them tipping the scales at an even
400 pounds. In the past VITO years
the revenue received from the sale Of
hogs amounts to $1,000 Mr.. HillhOuse
started with the big-type Poland
China strain and has found them so
we'll adapted to the climatic conditions
here that he has no intention of chang
ing. His drove is always headed by
a pure bred boar and the stock of
high grade brood sows is never per
mitted TO be lowered anywhere near
the vanishing point. The fattening ra-
ton consists principally Of chopped
barley. raised on the ranch and fed in
a self-feeder. The barley fields on
this ranch can always be relied on to
yield at least 30 bushels per ere. A
mountain land pasture of 70 acres is
provided for the hogs. and eventually
the entire ranch will be fenced hog
tight. Mr.. Hillhouse markets 90 to
20 hogs each year. usually hauling 30
head to a shipment TO American Falls.
He is convinced that the hog market
will be steady at a good figure for a
long time TO come and has arranged
to continue raising them for the mar
ket. He is working along diversified
farming lines and overlooks no feature
Of ranching which tends to add rev
enue. Last year he summer fallowed
$50 acres for fall seeding. but owing
to the prevalence of weeds decided to
let it go over for spring seeding. He
will seed around 300 acres to Bluestem
in the spring and some Early Baart
viii also be tried out ii seed can be
obtained. Six acres will be planted
to Pinto beans. Mr.. dollhouse know
ing from experience that they always
give him a sure yield. From two
grade Jersey Ows butter is regular
ly marketed, and during the spring
and summer months the sale of eggs
adds to the income of the ranch.
If any farmer can beat the record
OF the Rhode Island Red hens Of
Rockland valley let him speak up now
or forever hold his peace. On the ranch
of j. T. Fisher two of 'em showed up
with a family of young ones three
weeks ago, this being written on Feb
ruary -. One of the motherly hens
waddled up with eleven chicks. while
the other one showed up with an even
dozen. j.. F. H~autzinger, m of the
Rockland grain buyers, fixed up a
nice little nest in the corner of the
warehouse office for one of the hens
and on February 10th she rewarded
his thoughtfulness by adding nine
chicks to Power county's total of egg
producing mortgage lifters. The Pill
grim was in the office of the ware
house the other day shopping around
for a news item and had to step around