The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1923-01-19
BY ID. w. DAVIS
tPublished by Permission of the
Nrnrtn...,

Western Advertiser)
In frank discussion of Idaho's no.
tentialities it is difficult to maintain
an appearance of conservation. Small
as her cultivated area is, Idaho ranks
high in production. che grows sew
enty per cent of the Grimm alfalfa
seed OF the United States and sixtv-
five per cent of the seed peas; is the
third in production of wool. prunes
and plums; holds first place in Weld
per acre of alfalfa, clover and tim
othy seed; second in barley and tame
nay and ties with California for sec
ond on potatoes; and is third in av-
erage yield of wheat and beans.
Quality, more than quantity, how
ever, designates Idaho's agriculture
In the seed division Of the Information
al Hay and Grain show just closed Mt
Chicago, among 1000 entries from all
parts OF the world, Idaho won first
third. fourth and fifth, seventh, elev-
enth, thirteenth and fourteenth places
on red clover; second on sweet clover
first, second, third, fourth, fifth and
seventh on alsike clover; fourth
eighth and fourteenth on alfalfa 9th
er winnings were first, second, fourth
and twentieth on barley, third, fourth
fifth, sixth and eleventh on white
spring wheat, and second on Yellow
Dent corn. The other awards on these
staple products were divided among
our forty-seven sister states and the
rest of the world. This proud rec
ord is no accident. Idaho did as we'll
or better last year.
Seeds are aristrocrats among farm
products. They sell by the pound
not by the bushel or ton, and virtual
ly laugh at freight rates. The freight
from Idaho to Chicago on alfalfa or
clover seed grown on an acre ranges
from 81 to So, as compared to 500 for
an average yield Of potatoes; and the
seed will ordinarily sell at destina-
ton for as much as the potatoes, thus
converting the saving in freight into
a handsome profit.
Seed growing in a commercial way
in Idaho dates back only about five
years. Our production of grass seeds
100000 pounds, and
of seed peas 100000 pounds.
The development of our seed pea
industry is an interesting story. A
few years ago seedsmen of the central
west induced few farmers in the up
peas as an experiment From that
small beginning an industry has so
grown that now 1t pays the farmers
more than a million dollars year and
an additional half million to labor in
growing, sorting and packing the
seed for shipment
Idaho has had splendid develop
ment during the past decade.
Among the states she ranked third |
in increase in number of farms, Her
cultivated area increased 81 per cent, |
her irrigated area IA per cent and cap
tai invested in irrigation works 1913 !
Der cent. Her two and half million
acres of irrigated lands can be in
creased to four million by conserving
he waters that now run to waste, and
)IR lTIlRdIlOu oiC WV |
lasted for the future.
Progress is not dependent, how
,ver upon new construction. We are
wen now rapidly developing along
lew lines that are full of promise. Sew
raj factors combined to usher in this
lew area, chief among which were
nflation and deflation. Initiation was {
pleasant process. A demand for {
1ore than we could produce, at pric-
s virtually of our own asking, brot 8
prices beyond our dreams. I
he things we coveted were within I
ur reach. We began counting dol
ars but failed to note their decline a
I purchasing power. We quite large
= stopped doing things that required
onstant attention in order to have
lore pleasures. We went into the
ay and grain business on a large $
Gale because they gave us more ieis-
re. with potatoes and fruit as I'M Il
ortant side lines. AS a people we v
ent joyriding. The number Of our Z