The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-10-07
Guy e. MITCHELL TALKS ABOUT
MAcARoNI WHEAT.
GOOD CROP FOR MONTANA
Convinced That Present Prejudice
Against Cereal viii Be Overcome
Differs From MiIIers.

Guy E. Mitchell, corresponding Sec
rotary of the National Irrigation as
sociation, has become an enthusiastic
convert to the growing OF macaroni
wheat, experiments In which are max
ing in several parts of the state. He
is confident that only time will be re-
CURED to prove the value of the GER
cal and to overcome the perjudice
which exists against it at present in
many quarters.
No Longer Experiments.
.'The growing of macaroni wheat"
sad Mr.. Mitchell, "and its use for
flour areano longer experiments. The
experimental stage has passed and in
Minnesota and the Dakotas it is be-,
ing grown extensively. 1t gives a big
ger crop than the regulation hard
wheat, and while the millers of Min
neapolis last year made the price OF
macaroni wheat IL cents below that
for hard wheat, this year they only
place the price six cents below that
for hard wheat.
"The millers are against the wheat
because it takes a different machinery
to grind it, and they do not desire to
go to the expense. In consequence
they have opposed the growing of this
wheat as much as possible, but they
will have to come to it in time.
Everywhere this wheat is grown new
mills with the proper machinery have
been erected and all are doing a good
business. The wheat makes good
-four and it is being used a great deal.
Would Do Well In Montana.
II think Montana could raise this
wheat in good quantities, especially
in this portion of the country, as it is
easier to raise than other wheat and
the rust does not seem to attack it.
To be sure, there is no market here
for this wheat at present, but if the
farmers will grow it in sufficient
quantities. Secretary of Agriculture
Wilson will undoubtedly put them in
communication with parties who will
build the necessary mills for convert
ing it into flour. A new industry
would thus be added to this commu-
nifty, the benefits of which are meal
culable.
MilIers Are %Prejudiced.
"Macaroni wheat, from all that l
a learn, promises to become a
great crop for both a large area now
planted to ordinary hard spring wheat
and also for a considerable area in
which no wheat can be profitably
grown. Much has been written about
this wheat and there has been a fierce
fight between the northwestern mil
lers and the promoters of the new
grain. It looks to me as though the
millers were getting the worst of it
and that macaroni wheat has come to
stay as a bread wheat. | had a long
talk with MI. Edgar, the courteous
editor of the Northwestern Miller. He
stated that macaroni wheat as a bread
wheat was largely a failure and that
when ground into -four it made an in.
ferior bread; moreover, that it could
not be ground in ordinary mills, ow.
ing to it's extreme fintiness and that
it was impossible for the millers to
be changing back and forth in order
ITO grind an occasional batch Of the
sxa9w wheat. He further stated it as
f39NA4belief that the agricultural de-
ssrafkdnept in urging the production OF
Ibis wheat, and it's substitution for
wheat. was going far outside OF
tsssBKo6AVsiinee and that the millers were
shfterly opposed to the plan.
Let the growing OF macaroni
wheat, he said, sbe confined to the
region, where other wheat
wnlnot grow; but it is outrageous to
to supplant No l red winter
wheat with this goose wheat.
The present milling industry has been
built up after years and decades Of ex-
pertinent and improvement and we
have perfected a flour that as a hui
man food is practically perfect. The
whole wheat and the graham fiours
and this goose wheat flour are not
to be compared to the patent white
flour as a wholesome food
Those Who Dissent.
s.The wheat growers and the eaters
OF macaroni wheat bread do not seem
to agree with Mr.. Edgar. Some
trouble was at first experienced in
1888 R.o- <hic HnY,r fhG