The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-08-06
MACARONI WHEAT.
Hopeful Harry's Views on the Introduc
ton of This and Other New Varietie

Hopeful Harry's Views on the Introduce
ton of This and Other New Varieties
of Seeds
The prejudice against the new kind
of wheat "Macaroni' that the depart-
mint of agriculture is trying to intro
duce is very encouraging symptom.
The American people are too apt to
seize every new thing, whether it be
worthless or of benefit to them. I
think I am not far from telling the
truth when I say that there never was
machine invented that the inventor
did not find a sale for. When machine
is made and put upon the market it
always finds purchasers, no matter how
worthless it proves to be afterwards.
There are perhaps sixty or more varie-
ties OF peas and one noted scotsman
says that in reality there are less than
half of that number. Almost every
scotsman gives new name to some
old variety and the same is true in re-
gard to many other kinds of vegetables.
The varieties of potatoes are almost as
numberless as the sands of the seashore
and many of the varieties are so nearly
alike that no expert can distinguish any
difference, and yet many men are anx-
ious to try every new machine every
new pea, vegetable or potato that is
for sale. AS a people we are too much
like the ancient Athenians, ever look
ing for 'some new thing" [ don't wish
to be understood as being opposed to
new and modern machinery for much
of it is useful, labor saving and great
benefit to the community, neither am
opposed to new vegetables and grains
for many of them are an improvement
over the old, but in all these things it
is better to "go slow" as they are do
ing with this ''Macaroni'' wheat. No
one denies that this is good variety
of wheat and profitable to raise where
the soil and climate are adapted to it,
but it is yet to be proved whether this
country is adapted to it or not. Al
though as far as the department of
agriculture has been able to expert
ment with it it has been a success. 1t
seems best adapted to arid regions. If
so the Dakotas and the plains farther
west will be the place to raise it. The
department is meeting with some diff
r. W in iy,tr
to this country" and this shows wisdom
on the part of the people not to rush
into it until it has been thoroughly
tested. But there is no doubt that it
will be success and at no distant date
it will be a great acquisition to the
wheat growing interests of this coun-
try. Mark G. Carleton, cerealist of
the department, is very sanguine in
his expectations regarding this wheat,
and Secretary Wilson speaks very en-
couragingly of it.
The severe rain storms the first of
July did much damage to growing
crops. The high water on meadows
in sloughs and all low places was a
long time drying up. Standing grass
is badly damaged and meadows are so
soft that farmers can't get on to them
and grass will get so ripe before it can
be cut that it will injure the quality of
the hay. In many fields in the low
places the water has killed small grain,
corn and potatoes, but all crops that
were above water are looking fine and
promise good yield. The rains on
the 9th of July flooded fields and
meadows and the wet weather that set
in August lst will prove disastrous to
crops on lands affected by the wet
weather.
HOPEFUL HARRY.
BUSINESS LOCALS.