The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-11-05
FAVORABLE TO
MACARON| WHEAT
CereaIlst of the Agricultural
Observation-Disclosures nPrlces
and Prospects.
Snecial to The Globe.


view Of the fact that for the first time
in the history of South Dakota up
wards of 100000 bushels of maca-
roni wheat was crown in the state this
year, the matter of inducing the mill
ing and elevator companies to handle
this grain is of deep interest to the
farmers Of the Northwest. The grain
yields so we'll on the rich soil of South
Dakota that if a market was secured
for it there is little doubt that next
year would see greatly increased
acreage devoted to macaroni wheat.
An important letter on the macaroni
wheat situation has been received by
Prof E. c.. Chilcott, agriculturist OF
the experiment station of the South
Dakota agricultural college, from M.
A. Carleton, cerealist of the United
States department of agriculture. who
this fall made an official tour Of the
Northwest, studying agricultural con-
ditions. The information contained In
the letter will be of interest to the
farmers of every state which is adapt
ed to the production of macaroni
wheat. Prof. Carleton writes:
Prices Not So Bad.
help us to make it understood among
the farmers in the Dakotas that they
are not being nearly so badly treated
in the matter of prices for macaroni
wheat as they have imagined. I find
that the macaroni wheat never has sold
in Minneapolis and Duluth at price
that would be more than about 10
cents, on the outside, below No. /
northern, calculating prices on an ex-
port basis
1.-THE price of No. northern, par
ticularly in Minneapolis, 1t is well
known to all grain handlers, has been
simply an inflated figure, as much as
10 cents or more above the normal;
that is, above what it could possibly be
sold at if exported to Europe.
1.-The reason is that there has been
such an unusual demand at the mills
on account of the scarcity of the. grain.
Macaroni wheat, on the other hand, is
being sold on an export basis. Besides,
any new crop must be understood to
bring a price considerably lower than
the standard crops until it becomes
thoroughly familiar to the dealer and
consumer.
Under these circumstances, I think
the price of macaroni wheat has held
up remarkably well; in fact, the farm
GtS WOulu Ue JuSllllCu III tdhiIiS even
a lower price than they are now get
ting and If we were to export much of
the wheat this would really have to be
done, because the present price in
Duluth will admit of very little export
at present, in face of the unusually low
foreign prices. This is principally due
to the very large production of Russian
wheat this year, a good part of which,
you know, is macaroni wheat, and Rus
sian production controls the worlds
prices for macaroni wheat at present.
Besides all this 1t should be kept
in mind always that the macaroni
wheats as to price. 1t is an entirely
independent crop, standing upon its
own merits, as to supply and demand,
for the price 1t may bring. Hence, If
the ordinary wheat goes up 8 or 10
cents it does not follow by any means
that the price of macaroni wheat
should advance proportionately. On the
other hand, prices in Marseilles,
France, show that macaroni wheat may
increase in price when other wheat will
remain the same, or even decrease in
price.
Crop Was Inferior.
Another consideration of Importance
is that the present years crop, so far
as I have seen samples of it, is very
inferior one. This is unfortunate, but
is the only discouraging feature in the
prospects of this wheat, as we shall
this year make our first export ship
mentS, and our reputation in foreign
markets will have to be made largely
with this years crop. Aside from this
one feature, the situation on the whole,
to me, is very encouraging"
The public has yet to learn the value
Of macaroni flour for bread. Many who
have tried it prefer 1t to ordinary flour
In the opinion of those who have inves-
tigated, if it were placed on sale where
other fiours are sold, it would come at
once into general use. Another draw
back which is to be overcome is the
prejudice against it on the part of the
average miller They have not yet
learned how to handle macaroni wheat
successfully. Being harder than ordi-
nary kinds, it requires more power, and
in some cases additional equipment,
and many millers refuse to take it in
on this account and are doing what
they can to discourage the Industry
However, many progressive millers
recognize that this new wheat has
come to stay, and are adjusting them
selves to the situation.
The fact that the new wheat is meet
ing with some slight reverses will not
discourage farmers from growing it. It
has been definitely determined that in
nearly all sections of the Dakotas. and
especially in the drier portions, it will
give greatly increased yield over
other wheat.
MYSTERlOUSLY MISSING.