The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-08

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Gomez ~A' ''"i' w
:, Jack sat silent for few moments and then giving
the subject sudden turn he said:
What was it Mr.. Jackson was saying to YOU the
otner day about all the country ranch being
called the Great American Desert's''
"hy, no later than twenty-five years ago. all the
rlch farming land of what is now known as the Red
River Valley was Jumped in part of the Great Amer
can Desert Because its plains were treeless neonle
thought nothing could be grown there in the way of
crops one OF the best authorities the time said that
the Whole space of the wes between the 9sth meridian
and the ROCKY Mountains denomnated the great
roam To tb sx narren waste over which the eye
an object to break the monotony.'''
IS How did they find out the diference?'' said Jack
land surrounding this jackson ranch was one Of the first
to strike out into this country have often heard him
tell the story of his trip by prairie schooner this very
country IN 1907 They found treeless land
of course except along the banks few small rivers
put Tar from being DESERT it rich and fertile
that rank prairie grass feet high grew over it almost
from end to end Often they could see where thew
were going without standing up the seat.''
"My' exclaimed Jack with shining eyes "Wouldn't
have liked to have been along?''
''You have started me on this tack Young man and
you III have just to sen, for it's of things en-
thuse over Besides the story sort of Jackandhis-
bean-stalk in real life. Dalrymple and few wise farm
pushed out into the depised country sowed their
CROP wrestled with the troubles that all pioneers have
whether OF forest PRAIRIE and the first year grew
crop that startled people back in Ohio Illinois and
the far east.''
"And then what happeneds'' put in Jack eagerly as
'Why then everybody who knew anything at all
about wheat growing, and a good many who did not,
vast stretch OF land Peoped only by wandering tribes
Of Indians the hundreds of thousands have been
developed into the heart of the greatest producing
nation in the world.''
"What are they going to do when they get all the
wheat land in the United States cultivated There ism
much more, is theref'
''Theres good deal more than most people think,
Uncle Dick replied. 'But it It be discovered until
King heat r;o
People who grow it in section under certain cond
tions of climate, and SOIL think that be
grown where there any radical difference Then some
body gets desperate and discovers that it CAM
''Just what do you mean by that, Uncle Dicks I
don't quite underestimate
"You have heard of winter wheat and you know that
this wheat of the north vest is spring that is it
is from seed planted in the spring Well turnout
the middle west the wheat generally grown was sown in
the fall slept under the and sprouted very early
in the spring. That wheat is different quality from
our spring wheat and makes different kind of -four
cusively for the best grades Of -four and what little
spring wheat there in the country hndered by ad
of several kinds and its flour not highly
considered
eyes, said Jack, with a serious pucker between his
eyes, A'
"Wen, the winter wheat farmers could not be made
to believe that section of the country like the north
west where the soil and climate and very
different from those Of the middle which then pro
duced the best wheat in the country could be made to
raise wheat that worth while But somebody got des
perate, and made the attempt with most successful
decidedly surprising results Soils and climates taken
gether make all kinds Of wheat today too Crops from
various white red and amber in color
wheats with large kernels and wheats small
kernels that weigh five pounds or so over or
under the regulation sixty pounds for a bushel.'
1T see'' said Jack ''and now what more about the
people who get desperate and then find all sorts
things about wheat landss'
"For yearsunti about five years ago, in fact, most
people thought that wheat could grown on the vast
prares of western Canada just to the north
Somebody who was pushed out of the United States
as farmer went up there and tried it. He raised
crop that surprised farmers to the south. many
who owned expensive farms down in Ohio Illinois
and Iowa. sold them and trekked with their families to
western Canada where they bought land enough give
farm to every member of the family, almost,
price received for the old farm in the They
hardly made beginning yet, and there Is to
think Of wheatland shortage for generation