The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-07-24
Work OF Experiment Station.


"COnsidera work has been done
By the department and at the expert
ment stations, showing the value Of
adapting different varieties of wheat
to regions where they are likely TO be
most successful and promising results
are already becoming apparent Sys-
tematic studies have shown that this
country can be districted in such a
way that varieties of wheat adapted
to certain districts can be planted
therein and will give better results
than if indiscriminate planting is fol-
lowed. This work has also led to the
rapid extension Of the wheat growing
area into the western semi-arid dis
trictS where. up to a few years ago
little attention was given to the posi-
bilities Of wheat growing, eastern
Washington and Oregon being includ-
ed in the district referred to. A con-
siderable part of this territory is avail
able for the growing Of certain classes
Of Wheats, as has been demonstrated
by the work Of the department. It is
true that the yields here are not as
heavy as they are in some Of the more
humid sections, but even under arid
conditions, if all of this region were
planted. as we'll might be the case, it
would increase the total output OF the
grain under consideration in all prob
ability 10000 900 to 100000, 900 BUSH
els each year. This, on a conservative
estimate would add to the wealth Of
the cOunary not less than $4,000, 900
to 10000 900 annually.
in the matter Of originating new
varieties by breeding and in the i'm
prOvement of the yield and the quail
ty of the grain by selection of seed
from races and types, considerable
systematic work has been inaugural
ed. The results show beyond ques-
ton that with proper attention to de-
tail there is no reason why this coun-
| try need fear anything in the way of
a dimunitiOn in the quantity or quail
| ity Of its grain product. Not only has
| it been shown that the quality of the
| grain for special purposes can be
materially changed to suit necessary
| conditions or wants, but that the pro-
| Efficacy of races or types can be fixed
| by careful and systematic seed selec-
| ton.
Introducing Foreign Varieties.
| Careful and systematic investiga-
ton of the wheat growing conditions
in other countries have been inaugu-
rated by the department, and have
| been carried on for number of years.
1t has been practicable to secure from
| foreign regions varieties of wheat
adapted to certain conditions here
| The Introduction Of the marcarOni
Wheats is the most striking example
| or this work. For a good many years
efforts were made to introduce these
hardy Wheats from Russia and other
countries. For some reason, however
the wheats were never received with
any great favor until recently From
| $4,000 to 100, 900 bushels of macar-
Oni wheat were harvested from the
seml-arid regions Of the Great Plains
states in 1901, and in 1902 the plant
ing was much heavier. At a conser-
yatfve estimate not less than 1900 ,OOO
or 1000, 900 bushels were grown last
year from the product Of the seed OF
the previous season. The industry. sc
far as growing wheat is concerned
therefore seems to be established. and
1t now remains to interest manufac-
turers and others so that the product
when grown will find ready market
1t is safe to say that probably within
ten years the output of this wheat
from the semi arid regions of the
west will aggregate 20,O0OOO0 bushels
all OF it being grown on land which a
few years ago was considered practi-
ca1ly worthless, owing to deficiency in
rainfall
Some Of the most valuable work
so far done by the agricultural depart