10 BULLETIN 1421, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Prices, it is seen from Table 2 and Figure 6, remained fairly stable 
from 1910-11 to 1915-16 with the price of potatoes the only excep- 
tion. From 1916-17 to 1923-24, on the other hand, prices fluctuated 
widely. The price of each crop advanced during the crop year 
1916-17. With the exception of potatoes and alfalfa hay the price 
of each crop advanced again in 1917-18. There was a very marked 
divergence, however, in the rate at which the prices of the respective 
crops increased and these violent price changes greatly affected the 
agricultural equilibrium of the district and caused marked changes 
in the relative acreage devoted to the respective crops. 7 
CHANGES IN THE USE OF LAND, 1913-1924 
The Twin Falls south side irrigation project has now passed through 
20 crop seasons. During this time many shifts have been made in 
the relative acreage devoted to the individual crops grown. In old 
and well-established farming communities, experience shows what 
crop and livestock enterprises are best adapted to local conditions 
and what crop yields, on the average, may be expected. 
It must be remembered that the district under consideration is - 
new and passing through the formative period. In the beginning 
the settlers lacked the background of experience. They had to 
learn (1) what crop and livestock enterprises are adapted to the 
conditions of the project; (2) how to grow each crop under irrigation; 
and (3) what products could be disposed of in the available market. 
Under these circumstances considerable shifting in the use of land 
should be expected. 7 | 
Wheat, oats, barley, and alfalfa were the principal crops grown 
during the early years of the project. It was customary to grow one 
or more small-grain crops in the beginning, the land being leveled 
each time a crop was planted. As soon as the land was sufficiently 
level to permit the irrigation water to flow fairly uniformly and 
not collect in depressions, alfalfa was planted. In a few years so 
much altalfa was produced that hay became very cheap and the 
growing of other crops soon followed. 
No definite information concerning the acreages devoted to the 
respective crops and to pasture for the project as a whole is avail- 
able prior to 1912, at which time the Twin Falls Canal Co., began 
taking a crop and livestock census. The annual reports of these 
census enumerations furnish the data presented in Figure 7. The 
percentages of the crop and pasture land of the entire project that 
has been devoted to the individual crops and to pasture from 1913-— 
1924 are shown in Figure 7. 
The causes of the changes in the use of land can be pointed out 
only in part. Average crop yields for the project are not available 
except for the years 1919-1922, inclusive (Table 11); the prices 
presented in Table 2 should be considered only as very close approxi- 
mations of the prices received by Twin Falls farmers; and cost-of- 
production data are available only for the years 1919, 1920, and 1921. 
For these reasons no comparison can be made of the net returns per 
acre of the respective crops for the years prior to 1919. 
In considering the changes in the use of land that have taken 
place, it should be kept in mind that each crop frequently serves some 
important function in addition to returning a cash value. <A few 
examples will assist in making this point clear: (1) The usual method 
