The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-04-10
SCOTCH FIFE AND ODESSA WHEAT.
II "a what Farmers Think. ~ :
CONFLICTING OPINIONS.

* Az the relative advantages Of Scotch
Fife and Odessa wheat have attracted con-
siderable attention and no little discussion |
in different quarters, We thought 1t would
be of interest to tho farmers Of S'esrns
county to have an opportunity Of eompar'
ing experiences with the two varieties. We
therefore addressed brief note to . NUN
her of farmers in different townships, ask
ing what had been their experience with
the Scotch Fife and Odsssa ; which, under
all tho circumstances, they considered the
most profitable variety for farmers to
raise - to the quality Of -four Of each
and ~ 70 the nature Of the soil In their
towns. We have. received replies from
several, but not from al. We would DO
glad to hear from the rest, and from many
to whom no special inquiries were sent.
This 10 matter which IN, erssts all farmers,
and tho experience Of each one will be Of
interest.
MAIN. PRAIRIE, April 2, 1878.
Ep1roR JOURNAL I'm reply to your
questions asking about tho result OF ny ex-
D rienoe with Scotch Fife and Odessa
wheat the -four from these varieties tho
nature of the soil of Maine Prairie. 30,
would say, that have never raised any
Odessa wheat, but have carefully watched
its growth in my ne'ghbors' folds, and
have helped to thresh good deal Of it, and
find the prevailing opinion among tho FAR
mers here to DO that the Odessa wheat Will
produce from ono to three, and even hve,
bushels more to tho aero on old ground than
will the Scotch Fife, but on now or rich
ground the Scotch Fife will beat tho Odessa
from one to FIVE bushels. In fact, Odessa
does not do we'll on new land. but another
point in its favor 10, that it is about ten
days later than Scotch Fife, which gives
the farmer more time to save bis crop, it he
has both varieties The farmers here con-
slider the -four. Of tho Odessa superior in
quality (for home oonsumption) and equal
in quantity to that Of tho Fife, but have
heard that bakers do not like 1t 90 we'll be-
cause it will not take in so many other
heavy ingredients, such IS water, &c.,
therefore they have to put in more -four. /
| will not vouoh for tho truth Of the above,
but give it as hear It.
Nearly oil who sowed Odessa last year
are intending to SOW as much or more this
year. have tried almost every variety Of
| wheat that has been grown in this upper
country for tho last thirteen years,
and have not found any, under oil oircum-
stances, equal to the Fife. It 10 harder,
stands up better, and is less liable to rust
OF smut. and yields a. we'll. If not better
and commands . better price, than any
o,her variety. Some people here think that
il has detsriorated and does not yield 81
we'll IS 1t used to. lit has, It is their
own fault. I got some very pure Scotch
Fife eleven years ago and have raised from
that ever since, and it is Is good IN quail
ny and yields as we'll now - when I first
got it. When I stack my wheat, tho frs
stack is for seed, and is the pick Of thu
whole field. It is well cleaned and oil
small wheat screened out. With sucf
care it will not run out.
The soil on Maine Prairie is composed
of about twelve to eighteen inches Of YER,
rich sandy loan, with clay subsoil, pro
dueing large crops Of wheat, rye, oats
barley corn aud all kinds of small grain
and roots that can be raised any where il
the State. There are many fields that hav
raised q crop of either wheat or oats ever!
year for sixteen years without manure
and with tut one blowing . year, an
yielded from 10 to % bushels Of whsa
last year to the acre. would like to hes
the opinion Of some of my brother farmers
| a TO tho beet varieties OF wheat.
E. H. ATWOOD.
Mr.. B. H. wlnslow speaks, unqualified
in favor of the ODESSA, and says that, o.
account Of the larger yield. 1t will pay hi
better than the Fife even though he shout
haye to sell it or ten cents per hushel les