The Grit-advocate., 1903-03-20
FARMING MATTERS.
Trials Of Macaroni Wheat.

Payne, gives the result of a nuElDer of
izials of macaroni wheat in 1902. part
Of which is here reproduced:
Early in March. 1902 the Experiment
Station was enabled by the help given
by the cerealist of the Bureau of Plant
Industry of the Department of Agri-
culture to distribute seed of macaroni
wheat to number of carefully chosen
correspondents who were in position to
give the wheat a fair trial in compari-
son with other wheat
| The wheat was all grown without
irrigation and in every case received
ordinary field treatment Each person
was furnished enough seed to plant
two acres. Some planted more by
planting thinner
Three varieties were sent out. These
being Black Don. Yellow Gharnovka
| and Kubanka. So far as we knew the
| soils. the varieties were distributed SO
that they would be tested upon soil
somewhat similar to the soil upon
which grew in Russia.
Of the eleven platS, one was entirely
destroyed by hail when it was giving
great promise of large crop. Two
neighborhoods to which it was distrib-
uted experienced extremely drougthy
conditions and produced very little
grain of any kind.
Each party who raised wheat from
the seed furnished by us sent a sample.
These samples compared quite favor
ably with the original seed which was
grown in Russia.
When we visited the men who raised
the wheat last summer, they all ex
pressed satisfaction with the wheat and
were willing to plant it extensively II
they were sure they could sell their
wheat when raised. Nearly all of them
found that they had planted it too
thnly, as it did not stool, or tiller, like
ordinary wheat; but threw up only
from one to three stalks from each
seed planted.
The following statements are taken
from the reports sent us by the parties
whose names accompany them. The
reports were made in the form of
answers to questions. Here they are
put into the form of statements:
J. l.. Parker, who lives on section Is,
says:
l planted three and one-fourth acres
to macaroni wheat of the variety called
Black Don, on black loan soil late in
March. Planted forty pounds per acre,
and got rather thin stand The
season was very dry, only light
showers falling until the wheat was
heading out. The wheat ripened by
July 18th, which was little later than
other wheat in the vicinity. The yield
was Is bushels per acre. while other
wheat made to Z bushels under the
same conditions.
The only fault 1 can find with it is
that it bears such long boards.
]. A. Kimber, who lives on section
80, T. NJ, R. 43 W., Wray, Colorado,
says:
sowed two acres Of macaroni wheat
of the variety called Black Don, on
sandy loan land March 18th, at the
rate of sixty pounds per acre. The
season was favorable, except from the
10th to the goth of June, when the
weather was very dry. The wheat was
several days later than varieties usu-
ally grown here. 1t was cut July 21st,
and made 10 bushels per acre. The
seed raised was more shrunken than
other varieties grown near. Am in
clined to believe that this wheat is too
late a variety for this part of the
country. The long boards probably
furnish considerable protection from
hail.
Henry Moellenburg, section %, T. 4
s., r. Al W., Idalia, Colorado. says:
Planted three and one-half acres to
Kubanka macaroni wheat on dark clay
land at the rate Of thirty eight pounds
per acre, March 10th. Cut July 10th.
yielding u bushels per acre Some
damaged by grasshoppers. Better quail
ity than other wheat and ripened same
time Stand thin. Other wheat in field
made IS bushels per acre. Not any
faults. l would like to try it again.
H. F. Myers, section 6, T. S., R. A
W., Vernon. Colorado, says:
March 18th l planted five acres to
Kubanka macaroni wheat on light
prairie loan soil. Planted at the rate
of forty-five pounds per acre. July 25th,
it was ripe. 1t yielded 10 3-4 bushels
per acre, which was about the same
that other wheat yielded under the
same conditions. The grain was of
good quality The stand was poor be-
cause this wheat stooled so little.
would SOW about one and one-half
bushels per acre to get full stand OF
this variety. 1t is later than wheat
usually grown here l noticed that
when severe drought came, the extra.
stalks on this wheat dried up. while the
main stalk continued to grow.
A. S. Kester. section 33, T. 3 S., R.
43 W., Lansing, Colorado. says.
planted two acres of Kubanka mac
aroni wheat on black loan soil March
18th. at the rate of one bushel per acre.
Got good stand The season was an
average one. The wheat was harvested
July 17th, making II bushels per acre
of good quality. 1t was damaged 10
per cent by grasshoppers. 1t ripenad ii
about the same time my other wheat
did. The other wheat made Is bushels
per acre believe ii is a good kind