The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1919-12-18
THE NEW BOARDMAN COUN1RY--A
THRIVING OREGON THREE-YEAROLD

ter is plentiful and methods of dis
tribution very satisfactory.
The Government also exercises a
paternal regard for the settler, who
is often a man of limited means and
also of limited experience in irriga-
tion matters, by providing for his
assistance free of charge, the sci
vices of a farm expert to help him
solve his agricultural problems.
This expert from the Department OF
Agriculture is also an engineer and
will lay out bitches, give land levels
and instructions for headgates, tools,
ETC.. To the novice in farm matters,
this is a great help and somewhat re-
moves the handicaps Of inexperience
The policy of the Government in
limiting the homesteads to 40 acres
has the merit of speeding UP develop
ment, as the farmer more quickly
puts his lands into crops than would
be the case we're he permitted to TAXI
so or 100 acres.
In regard to crops, this tract, ow.
ing to it's low elevation, which is
from ESQ to $50 feet, is enabled to
produce a much greater range Of
farm crops than higher levels. The
long growing season and the warm
character of the soil make it possible
to produce early potatoes, peanuts,
melons, cantoloupes, tomatoes, egg.
plant, asparagus, peaches, cherries,
grapes and early strawberries and to
get good prices from the early mar
ket. The low elevation also enables
the farmers to get four cuttings OF
alfalfa, which is much to his profit
and advantage.
The almost continual sunshine in
summer is also an insurance of good
quality, as rains seldom damage hay
here, and it is easy to obtain the re-
CURED green color peculiar to well
CuEtu dlldlld.
This crop is the mainstay of the
project, and without it, farming
would be a losing proposition. The
nature of Il soil renders this plant
peculiarly necessary, as it supplies
the humus-nitrogen and necessary
plant food in which the land is some
what deficient. Any crop will grow
On land which has previously been
planted in alfalfa
Alfalfa is ali ie&' crop Cor this
locality and is 4 profitable Il to
raise. 1t has few enemies here ra-
bbits excepted) does not winter-kiil
and the proximity Of the
stock country insures a G o O d
market. 1t also takes less labor to
handle a hay crop than any Others
which in these times is a fact VOL h
considering.
The land is usually put into alfal-
ia as soon as possible. 1t is gener-
ally started with a nurse crop of rye
and if sown in spring will yield a
fair crop about August or September,
and three or four crops a year, there
after, The average yield per acre is
from 5 to 6 tons where the stand is
matured. Larger yields have been
reported in places. Mr.. H. H. Yves,
ton raised this season, on a small
area in section 10, at the rate of
tons, but this is exceptional. Much
of the alfalfa acreage will do better
with a little older stand. as the plant
is exceedingly deep rooted when ma
ture.
AS prices for the past two or three
years have been around $40 per ton
alfalfa has been a fairly profitable
crop to raise. There is no other for
age crop that can begin to compare
with alfalfa, and no crop so easil,
raised, so easily irrigated, harvested
or marketed.
1t is indispensable to the man who
raises stock. and stock is always
found where alfalfa grows. 1t is rel
ished alike by all. Sheep, cattle
poultry and bees thrive on it. anC
where it is found, prosperity. will mo-
be lacking. The Boardman districI
has all the essentials of a great alfal
ia producing section and 10 matter
what other crops are later on pro
duced, the main crop interest viii
center in this, the king of hay crops
Corn does we'll here and as th'
dairying industry comes to the front