Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-04-05

Z Duluth Commercial Record. Z
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Among growers of grain in the
three Northwestern states the Ques-
tion Of durum (macaronD wheat un.
doubtedly exceeds In interest all others.
This 10 natural. from the fact that
its future as dependable. profit grow.
ing cereal, based upon its real worth
~ staple product for the Northwest
ern farmer, is still to be demonstrated.
What IL 1t worth? What is the real
truth as to its milling value? How
much more will il yield per acre than
6fe or blue stem? What are the ex-
port prospects this coming fan and
winter? etc. ETC. All these questions.
and many more, have been fired at the
writer during the past ninety days.
especially the last one, referring to
exports.
Explicit Or complete answers cannot
be given, but review Of the crop
years Of 1904-5 and 1866. with other
facts OF present knowledge bearing on
the subject will undoubtedly prove Of
value to the Northwestern farmers In
permitting them to arrive at independ
ant conclusions.
The well known facts about durum
wheat are that il was imported and
festered by the United States agricul.
tural department for semiarid regions
Of the Dakotas and other Western
states, but that II will grow and pro-
duce good yield in sections OF normal
or abundant rainfall was evidenced by
the crop grown last year in localities
favored by a rainfall more than nor.
NAL.
What the Anal result OF continued
s0wings In sections OF excessive rain
fall and it's bearing on the quality OF
Aurum would be has not yet been
demonstrated. but that heavy soil and
excessive rains are injurious and de-
tsriorating in their effects, TO a GER
tain extent. goes without question. its
adaptability for such sections and un.
der such conditions has never been ad
vocated by the agricultural depart,
nent. While the full effect upon the
quality OF durum wheat grown In diff
ferent localities and under different
conditions has probably not been de-
termined TO anybody's satisfaction.
there Ia question about the foreign
sr's desires In the matter of quality.
and this point must be strongly EN-
phasized, They do not want anything
poorer than No. 3, and would not have
taken anything but No. this year.
could enough OF 1t have been fur
nished
On the present crop Duluth has
handled eight million bushels and Min.
neapolis about one million bushels.
other than what was reshipped to Du.
luth. Practically all Of the durum re.
seived at Duluth has been sold for ex.
port. and the remarkable feature OF II.
at the present time, Is that durum
wheat at tho seaboard Is selling for
export at prices better than can be
obtained for spring wheat in the same
position, and IL In good demand. II
this demand keeps up until the open
ing OF navigation 1t is probable that
durum at Duluth will be selling even
with or higher than the corresponding
grades OF spring wheat.
All the causes that have contributed
70 the extraordinary demand for du-
rum are hard to analyze at this time.
coming more or less as a surprise to
the whole trade. II was said to be due
to shortage OF Russian wheats OF the
same quality. but this can hardly hold
good. as Russia has been a very large
shipper OF wheat ever since last Au-
gust. with no suggestion OF shortage
OF any kind.
II was also intimated that ii was be-
Ing used exclusively for making mac.
aroni. this being assumed because OF
the fact that the Mediterranean ports
were the largest users OF II. although
there is room for doubling that any
such quantity OF wheat Is used for
mscaroni
Whatever the reason for the de.
mand. II seems likely that II will con.
tinue to sell In the worlds markets
At very close to the price OF other
wheats On March 2 the price OF Rus
sian wheats and durum was identically
the same In European markets, IS to
81 cents per busheL Durum has come
% stay. and must be reckoned with
hereafter among our permanent wheat
crops OF the Northwest. II domestic
mills refuse X, the demand abroad will
no doubt continue to absorb our sur
plus TO the detriment OF our other
whests. As regards It's yield over
other wheats there IS no question but
what Il has the advantage by from
three to eighk bushels per acre. all
conditions considered.
The only suggestion that the writer
would make y that when seeded IN
sections enjoying an average rainfall
e twenty to thirty inches Il should BE-
eut On Tho Iightest soil 70 BE- found. On
Tho hills and not IN the valleys Or low
lands. Insist on seed that h absolutely
fyce Of other Wheats. and II possible to
ebtain 4 uss nothing but No durum.
Fiaxseed.
Owing a the low prices prevailing
)or nnxseed last fall thoro seems 10 b
= tendency to cut Il cut. and IL this
- writer believes ! mistake will be
The comparatively low prices Il
.11&k -.