Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-01-13
WHEAT AND FLOUR.

One encouraging feature OF OUT
farming interests is the gradual In
crease In the production of wheat In
the county, and wheat of a good quail
ity at that.
The writer can remember when
there was scarcely enough wheat rals'
ed in the county for chicken feed, and
1t was chiefly Of the club variety, a
good looking kernel, plump and white
but unfit for flour-making purposes
For a time II was doubted by some
whether Fife wheat would grow here,
Or at best harden sufficiently TO make
good -four. However, the encourage
ment offered by the erection OF a
Touring mill resulted in thorough and
successful experimentation and now
all doubt has been removed as to the
quality of wheat that a be raised
in this region.
II is true that the growing season
is short and in some localities wheat
is liable to injury by early frosts.
This was the case last fall when con-
siderable wheat was damaged and rem
dered unfit for the manufacture OF
first grade -four. Nevertheless, wheat
grown on the lower bench lands es-
capped the frost and the yield was
large.
The local mill had its storage ca
pacity taxed early in the season, two
car loads of wheat being shipped from
Rock creek by one grower. While
the mill has only been able 70 run
six or seven months In the year here.
%tofore, owing to a scarcity Of wheat,
this year there is enough on hand and
in the county to insure a continuous
run.
The fact that farmers are paid cash
for their wheat upon delivery should
encourage them in al effort to en-
large upon their acreage and in secur.
ing the very best results, inasmuch
as there is so much of what they raise
that must be exchanged in trade with
merchants.
In this connection there Is one
thing that should be a matter of deer
concern with every farmer. He can
help himself by pushing the scale OF
homemade -four. Thousands OF
pounds of -four from the Judith Roll
er mills are sold in Lewistown every
month and the most of the consum'
ers, II not all of them, are very par
ticular and know good -four when they
use It. Yet, strange to say, some
stores right in the center Of the
wheat belt, keep no other -four for
sale except eastern or Gallatin valley
brands. This is one way to encour'
age home industries. The best grade
OF -four made by the local mill is
equal to that made in Bozeman, while
the high grade eastern -four lacks in
neutrition, whatever may be said OF
its other qualities.
OF course, the enterprising mer
chant, catering to a city trade, which
is likely to be Indifferent as to where
the -four is made, is expected to keep
-four of various manufacture, but he
still has the enterprise and public
spirit to encourage a home industry
and sells more of the local product
than any other.
II farmers in the wheat growing
region would withhold their trade
from merchants who can find no mer
il In -four made from their wheat OF
because they can save twenty-five
cents on a sack by handling foreign
-four, perhaps it would have a salu
tary effect. Montana will never pros
per rs she should as long as mer
chants refuse to handle the products
raised at their doors.
Our farmers who are awake to theil
own interests should make some in
quiries along these lines and try tc
get the miller and the merchant to
gether. There may be only a slight
difference in the matter of price which
can be overcome, especially If the
farmer will use the lever which /.
clearly in his possession.