Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1899-10-13
100 BUSHELS PER ACRE.
Is the Amount Estimated This New
Wheat Will Yield it Properly
Handled.

Is the Amount Estimated This New
Wheat Will Yield if Properly
Handled.
Undoubtedly the most valuable
piece of wheat raised in the
United States this year was that
produced on a little plat of ground
in Scottsburg, Indiana: It was
raised by r. P. McCaslin, scien-
tiic farmer and experimenter.
One thousand dollars for a few
handfuls of wheat seems a prodi-
gious price, yet that is the valua-
ton of the wheat, if indeed it can
be valued at all. One-half interest
in the total yield of it, which was
only eleven pounds, sold fer $500.
This amount vas paid by a
wealthy Tennesean after a per-
sonal inspection of the wheat
while growing, under agreement
to furnish additional capital sufi-
cient to raise the wheat on a large
scale. Mr. McCaslin received
many Handsome offers for the
entire crop, including one of $1,000
cash, but he refused to sell at any
price.
This remarkable wheat is an
accidental hybred, being a cross
between the Genesee Giant and
the Fultz, and Mr.. McCaslin has
given it the name of Hoosier
Giant. It is a square smooth
bearded wheat, with a pearly red
berry, partaking more strongly to
the properties of the Fultz than
the Genesee.
The distinctive and valuable
feature of this wheat, however, is
it's wonderful stooling capacity,
which is beyond comparison with
any other variety known. In this
respect it is unlike either of it's
genitors. Its great practical value
in wheat raising may be easily
comprehended when it is known
that one sixth of the amount of
seed wheat usually sown will raise
three or four times as much wheat
as other varieties on the same
amount of ground.
Remarkable as it may seem,
individual grains of this wheat
produced as high as IS stalks.
From this number it ranged down
ward to 25 stalks, giving each hill
a veritable bush-like appearance.
MOI is this prolific growth pro-
duced at the expense of the berry,
either in quantity or quality. No
%imperfectly developed heads or
grains are found, the yield of each
stalk being full and perfect. Its
hard, pearly and translucent berry
make it a perfect wheat in every
respect for commercial purpose.
This wheat was sown at the rate
of ten pounds an acre for one
bushel to every six acres, while
the usual rate is from one to one
and a half bushels an acre, The
entire stock of seed consisted OF
fve-eighths of an ounce, which
. planted in a plat of ground 6 by
: q feet: rows II inches apart, ano
: one grain every four inches.
! Rain and fog during the bloom.
!: ing period, which caused a lighr
yield Of wheat over southern
! Indiana, also operated against the
: Hoosier Giant, yet the plant
yielded at the rate of Al bushels
: per acre producing eleven pounds
: at harvest. Individual rows
showed yields running from % te
: 6S bushels per acre. Mr.. Nc
: Caslin has no hesitation in saying
that the wheat is capable Of pro
: ducing from so to 100 bushels tt
: the acre with proper care and pro
pitious weather.
The stooling quality Of this
/ wheat enables it to winter we'll
It has a rank stalk, and has {
habit peculiar to bearded Russian
wheat-that Of lying fiat upon the
ground like moss as O 20 as up
While growing, this wheat at
trBcted the widest attention
Agricultural men from all parts Of
the state and from other states az
well, came to see it. Hundreds Of
local farmers viewed it, but none
had ever seen similar wheat.
For weeks before harvest Mr.
McCaslin employed boys to guard
it from sunrise to sunset agains'
the attacks of birds.
TsLke.I D1..~do~