The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-02-09
THE BARLEY QUESTION.

righteousness of barley growing,
and claims that climatic conditions
make such difference between Can
adian barley and Minnesota barley
that the latter cannot be grown pro-
fitably. This is amtly refuted by
the experience Of Blue Earth county
farmers, as we shall show. But it
makes a great blunder in it's argu-
ment when it says: "The English
grain papers have noted the immense
increase of Canadian barley received
in that country since $780, which
shows that the Canadian farmer has
found market upon which he will
have to pay no tax" The Globe
proves by it's own statement that the
Mckinley tariff has kept Canadian
barley out Of this country aud thus
protected our own farmers. The
amount of barley thus kept out from
destructive competition with our Min
nesota growers in the eastern mar
kets is estimated at u, 100000 bushels.
But now to the Globes statement
that forty bushels to the acre is near
ly twice the average. This is con-
sidered a very low average by the
dealers in this city. No farmer who
has marketed his barley here reports
having raised less than 80 bushels to
the acre, while nearly all report
yields Of over 45 bushels.
Mr.. Klingheil, of Mcpherson, sOwed
six bushels of seed last spring at what
he considered two bushels to the acre
and harvested 206 bushels. A part
of the land sown was an old potato
patch and he did not cut this. Thus
his yield was upwards of seventy
bushels TO the acre.
Mich Brules, whose farm is short
distance north of the city, had yield
Of 50 bushels an acre.
Carl Malzke. of Rapidan, had a
yield of As bushels an acre. He has
raised barley since 1871, seeding from
fifteen to twenty-five acres of ground,
but this year he will put in u acres
He says that barley is his most pro-
fltable crop.
Fred Pautsch, who owns 400 acres
near Good Thunder, will seed $50
bushels of barley this spring. He re-
Gently moved from Wisconsin, where
he raised barley, and he believes that
there is plenty Of money in it in this
county.
Many farmers are waiting to see
whether the Wilson bill passes, be-
fore deciding to SOW barley this
spring.
The average price paid for barley
in this city this year has been. 80 cents
a bushel, but taking the low average
of 35 cents, and the low average yield
at 40 bushels, the return per acre is
S14, or twice what wheat now brings.
The present duty is thirty cents a
bushel for barley, while the Wilson
bill makes the duty twenty-five per
cent. ad valorum, which is about l23
cents bushel at present prices.
Extra No Western barley sells at
Sc to So cents a bushel at Buffalo, and
No. Canada at 80 cents a bushel.
The difference is price is due entirely
to the better quality of the Canadian
grain, which weighs so to 81 pounds,
while the Minnesota barley weighs
4S to so pounds. Taking off the thirty
cents tax, the Canadian farmer re-
ceives so cents for his barley at Buff
alO, while. the Minnesota farmer re-
ceives Sc to So cents. Under the small
protection furnished by the Wilson bill
barley won d take drop Of seventeen
to twenty cents a bushel, which would
lower the price the same in this state,
bringing it down one-half, and max
Ing it Improbable to raise.
The effect of the Mckinley bill was
to stimulate the production of barley
in the Northwest. During the year
ending June 80. 1890 there was shipped
to the United States from Canada
II, 300, 900 bushels of barley, worth
over S., 600, 900. During the year end
ing June 80, 1893, the imports were
less than 100000 bushels. During
the six years, 1884 80, the receipts OF
that grain at Milwaukee and Chicago,
the two great receiving points, were
about II, 100000 bushels year. When
the duty was raised, the annual re-
celptS at those points rose to %, 2O0,-
COO bushels. The industries of the
farmer haye been diversified. Bal
ley is good for the land, making it
clean, and under the stimulus of the
Mckinley bill the grade grown in
Minnesota is constantly improving,
as the farmers become versed in It's
raising and harvesting.
If you have made up your mind to
buy Hoods Sarsaparllla, do not be
persuaded to take any other Be sure
to get Hoods Sarsaprilla, which pos
coSSnS macmillan cIJrafiva nnwar