The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-07-10
cHANGINa SEED WHEAT.

OnAN61NG oGl@0
1t is no longer disputed that in ordinary
farming the sowing Of any given variety
Of winter wheat continuously on the same
land or In the same locality results in its
deterioration, both as 10 yield and quality.
The numerous letters which each sea-
son brings his Office relative TO this con-
d1tion and as TO the sections from which
the most profitable change of seed is ike
ly TO be had. have prompted Secretary Co
burn of the state board OF agriculture 10
obtain for publication the views of those
having the largest opportunity for obser-
walton in such matters and noting in
telligenuy some of the practical results.
No other men are in such close touch
with wheat-ra3sers and the wheat interest
as the millers. and the tenor of the val
uable information secured from them in
reply TO inquiries is well shown in ex-
tracts from some OF their letters as fol-
lows:
Mr.. c. V. Topping. Of Enterprise, sec
retary of the Kansas Millers' association,
writes: The belief existing among win
ter wheat-growess that sowing the same
varieties year after year in the same lati-
tude lowers the yield and quality, is cor
rect c. Hoffman & Son, extensive mil
lers at this place. last year imported from
Russia some of the pure Russian wheat.
This IS the Crimean winter wheat and
would suggest for accuracy and definite
ness that the name Crimean winter wheat
be used for this Russian variety and that
the misnomer Turkey or 'Rice'' wheat
be discarded) A number of years ago
the same quality Of wheat was imported
and by comparing the wheat that has
been sown here year after year with that
jusr imported, It shows a very marked
difference both inquahty, and certainly in
yielcd of bushels per acre, as well as in
the wheat product. The -four from pure
Russian wheat is much stronger than that
from wheat that has been sown and re-
sown in this country for a number of
years. This is very noticeable in Europ-
can markets where the Hungarian fiOurs
command from 20 cents TO so cents per
barrel more than our ordinary Russian
wheat flours. Farmers should change
seed certainly every five years. and con-
slider that il would them well TO change
every three years For this part of the
state Dickinson county, would recon-
mend sowing the hard varieties. and In
exchanging seed the central part of Kan
sas could use that grown in either north
western or northeastern Kansas; but OF
course where II can be had. the pure Rus
stan seed from the Crnea should be
used
Mr. =. W. Krehbiel. manager OF the
Moundridge Milling Co, at Moundridge,
Mcpherson county. says: The nature
OF our wheat undergoes some change. and
It would be very profitable to procure new
seed at least every ten years, l think a
decline IN the original qualities for mill
ing VIII first bo manifested. but as the
plant loses It's native European hardness
(as the Turkey Variety ii viii not stand
the winter so we'll and consequently give
a less yield. Our locality would want
Turkey wheat imported from Russia Mr..
y. yvarkentin. OF Newton. now has some
Of this new seaf imported, and the use of
such should be a great profit 10 our farm
ers."
Mr. Warkentin above mentioned. prest-
dent and manager of the Newton Elevator
& Milling Co, Harvey county. says e1-
partence teaches him that by sowing the
same variety year after year IN the same
locality il changes it's qualities both as TO
WELD and milling, ''Our sc-ca1led Turkey
wheat is becoming softer from year 70
year. OF course the growing season has
much TO do with thiA II the wheat can
mature without too much rain the per
cen of gluten. which makes II valuable,
viii be much larger than otherwise In
my opinion our farmers should change
seed at least every four or five years ana
new seed should be imported from the
Crtnea about every six TO eight years.
Farmers should be encouraged 10 e1-
change for seed from a distance of say
twenty-five miles, as I have found ii a
great means of Improvement Our SOL
and climate seem best adapted for the
red, hard winter wheat. with which We
can easily compete in the worlds markets
I have twice within the past ten years
imported fresh seed wheat from the
Crsmea,-the wheat known as the Russian
Turkey-the beneficial results Of which are
very plainly seen in our county"
George II. Hunter. president OF the Hun
ter Milling company. at welltn gton. IN
sumner county. writes: "Our consider
abba experience and observation is that
continuous sowing of the same wheat n
enc locality is injurious to 1t We nave
tried wheat from other portions OF our
county and find a change, especially from
tte north, is beneficial We would not
recommend sesd obtained from too great
a distance, say not 10 exceed 80 miles,
buc IL has been our experience that when
new setd has been brought in either wheat
or corn, the yield has been much better
for several years. Generally a poor yield
makes a poor product. which Is the only
complaint we would make as 10 quality.
It is a good rule 20 change seed al least
once every five years
The Messrs. Colburn. Of the Queen Bee
Roller mills, a. Mcpherson, writes in sub
stance as follows: we believe our farm
ers should change seed as often as once
in three or four years; not necessaT1ly %
imported SEED but % that raised N cif-
ferent locality. This we believe with the
exceedingly good milling qualities OF The
Russian. OF as ve term Il Kansas h=-d.
would hold both the yielding and milling
Qualities intact for many years. While
we are firm believers n changing Se,d
al least once in three years II - : fac.
that prevailing climatic conditions make a
wonderful difference n tho outcome OF