Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-03

year." said Secretary Wilson. which we
reckon to be more than 100000 bushels
less than that of 1903, Is due not so much
to decreased acreage as to the exhaustion
of the soil. From the Dakotas to the Pa
cific ocean the wheat growers have been re-
peating crops until the chemicals in the
soil which are necessary to feed the whea:
are becoming exhausted. The plants are
thus weakened and become more sensitive
to disease, and the consequence is a lighter
yield Wheat growers have resorted to
summer fallowing-that Isl getting a crop
only every once in two years That does
not prevent, but only delays, the ultimate
exhaustion Of the soil. The department is
trying to find plants that are profitable and
which can be grown instead of following;
plants that will fill the soil with humus,
or organic matter and thus recuperate it.
We have considerable hope of success.
1.-The American people consume more
wheat than any other nation, because of
our ability to buy it. This years crop,
which is in the neighborheod of $4,000, OGO
bushels, is less than seven bushels per
capita, and that is the smallest per capita
have had for ten years. In India they
raise about half a bushel per capita. Sixty
years ago we used to raise about five BUSH
els per capita. In 1869 it ran up to seven
and a half bushels; in 1879 to nine and a
quarter bushels; in 1880 1t fell back to
seven and one-half. Last year it was about
eight bushels, but this year 1t has fallen off
again We will consequently need the most
of this years crop for seed and bread. We
need about 5O,OO0,OOO bushels for seed and :
nearly 450O0O,0O0 bushels for bread every
year; hence the exports during the current
fiscal year will be much smaller than usual.
In 1902 we exported about 203, 900 600 BUSH
els and in 1901, when there was very
large crop, 234, 600 coo bushels, but the ex-
ports this year will be the smallest for
many year.
Imported Wheat.
eve import about million dollars
which is very strong, having been grown
on new land, to strengthen the weak
wheat which is now being grown on our
depleted land; and the millers of Minneap-
oils and elsewhere are willing to pay a
duty of % cents a bushel which is about
the rate of 81 per barrel of -four. But the
farmer has never had any benefit of this
duty. No wheat is imported except for
mixing purposes, because we have always
grown enough for our own use and have
had large surplus to export. But it will
not be necessary to import wheat to grade
up our flour much longer. The agents OF
the Agricultural Department have found
in North Africa and in Russia a wheat
called durum, better known as macaroni
wheat, which will grow wherever there is
ten inches of rainfall We introduced it
into the semi-arid regions of the west five
years ago, and 1t has since spread very
rapidly, for it can be cultivated on lands
that are above the ditch and cannot be
iIIISdltu HIS year we Will pEOuuCe dDOut
14,O00,O0O bushels of macaroni wheat. 1t
does not suffer from rust or blights, but
will require notifications to be made in the
machinery of ordinary -four mills, which
were built for grinding soft wheat. A
large percentage of this years crop is be-
ing saved for seed next year. when we may
expect 0OOO0OO-bushel crop of it, and it
will double up its yield from year to year
Yes, l should say that the acreage of
wheat planted in the United States has
been keeping pace with the growth of
population l do not think there is any
falling behind. In 1894 there were 81, SS2,
AS acres planted in wheat In the United
States, while in 1903 there were 40, 464 1867
acres. During the same time the value
of the crop increased from s225, 902 ,025 to
s443, O24 s26, and the volume from 400, 267,-
41G bushels to 6s7 ,s21 ,s35 bushels in 1908
which was just about the normal crop,
yielding an average of 1872 bushels to the
acre in 1894 and 1919 bushels per acre in
1903. The average yield for the ten years
was 1872 per acre. Thus you will see that,
taking year after year, the increase in the
wheat product has been Agreater than the
increase in population.
Increased Acreage Will Follow.
There need be no anxiety as to the abil-
ity of the farmers of the United States to
provide bread for largely increased popu-
lation. The great corn states of the west
can produce as much wheat as we want
readily, and will as soon as it is profitable
for them to do So AS long as the price re-
mains at 81 bushel it is more profitable
than corn. The farmers lof the great corn
and grass belts grow corn and other small
grains for feeding domestic animals be-
cause 1t pays better than to raise wheat for
30 or GO or even 80 cents bushel. But
when the price runs up to a dollar bushel
that's the turning point. Dollar wheat is
the height of agricultural prosperity, and
will be followed by largely increased acre
age. AS long as a farmer can get dollar
h aa ha will aic tn ,rafa
to anything else, but when 1t drops back
to normal prices he will return to hogs and
cattle, to dairy products, corn and DIVERSE
fed crops.
"a great corn crop is raised by blowing
up pasture, and a great wheat crop can
be got the same way. 1t is entirely posi-
BILE for every farmer In the grass and corn
belt to pillow up a pasture and add a hun
dred millions of bushels to the wheat crop
every time they can get that dollar, and
they will do it, sure. Heretofore the pio-
neer has grown our wheat because it is an
easy crop to cultivate and brings ready
money. Afterward, when the country gets
settled, and land becomes more expensive,
farmers are more prudent In their treat
ment of the soil, because wheat wears it
out so fast. and they grow. other crops and
plant wheat only for rotation and DIVERSE
fled farming.
From the time we got our bread from
the Genesee valley of New York a great
wheat wave has moved westward, but it
has exhausted the plant food in the soil in
its progress. Wheat is the royal cereal.
the best food known to man but it exacts
all that the earth can yield. When the
wheat wave was in Iowa that state grew
6oO00OO0 bushels year. Other states pro-
duced similar crops, and can do 1t again
whenever called upon, but in the meantime
the people. will raise corn to fatten their
hogs and keep their lands in pastures to
feed their dairy cattle. This will bring the
soil back to its original strength and fer
tility. I expect to see an evolution in
farming in what we call the arid states,
such as we have seen In what ara now
termed the central western states, out it
will be largely influenced by a new agency
that is being introduced into that country.
Irrigation is likely to revolutioniZe farm