, 1906-08-02
NEW MARKET INVADED.

Six years ago the first experiments
in America were made in the raising
of macaroni wheat. This year no less
than 10000, 900 bushels will be har-
vested. Three-fourths of the crop is
raised in three states-North Dakota,
South Dakota and Minnesota. The
smaller fraction is distributed along
the central wheat belt right across the
continent to the Pacific coast, he
Rocky mountain states sharing equally
with Kansas and Nebraska in boosting
the new industry.
Durum wheat yields a more bounti-
full harvest than other varieties N re-
quires a great deal less rainfall. Good
crops are harvested from lands where
the rainfall does not exceed ten inches.
Numerous experiments have been
made and are being made in Wyo-
ming. Thus far these experiments have
been successful, and the promise for
the future of the industry is exceeding
ly bright. In a recent interview Secre-
tary Wilson of the department of agri-
isGulture said:
-7atirlrrigation concerns crops which are
to be grown below the ditch naturally
enough. Our aim is to produce varie-
ties which can be grown above the
Z ditch. No one has yet provided us with
the agricultural panacea which will
u make water run up hill, so every calcu-
lation with respect to irrigation must
be based on the natural flow of water
and its artificial distribution. 1t is a
question requiring nice calculation to
determine just what can be grown in a
" limited rainfall. II there is an annual
fall of ten inches, this durum wheat
will grow and thrive. To ascertain
what would grow in less, one of our ex-
perts went to the Sahara desert and
discovered that in six inches of rainfall
the finest date palm would reach per-
p fectiou. Where there is a minimum of
d rainfall one thing that will grow is the
spineless cactus, which produces an
excellent stock feed and is being grown
now where nothing could be produced
heretofore. We have found that in any
desert region there is little bare sand.
All is rich In mineral plant food, lack
ing only moisture to produce some kind
of crop. '0'''H7 BOO
"0ur aim is to set each acre on the
continent to producing something use
full, no matter what the original condi-
lions. This puts us at work first of all
, above the irrigation ditch. There we
are growing durum wheat, which is re-
turning fine crops under conditions
which would be adverse to other
grains. The farmer is pleased, but he
must find a miller 10 take his yield, and
the millers have been discriminating
against the new variety. About a year
ago the department took up this phase
OF the question and set out to find a
market for the product. The troubles
in Russia suggested the possibility that
the wheat crop there might be less
than usual and the commercial opening
for American.grown wheat correspond
ing by greater this season.
'29r'Phis forecast has been fulfilled, and
the Shipments from this country to
Mediterranean ports in the last six
weeks have aggregated. according to
my reports, 6,O00,0Oo bushels. Not on
ly is the market established, but the
price recently offered by the foreign
importers is ~ cents higher than was
given FOR 1.-The frstO shipments. This
places the question of marketing the
wheat beyond the point of doubt. as
he2Ameriean reputation for furnishing
a good quality of grain is 10Y firmly
established. The present shipment of
several hundred thousand bushels from
Duluth to MarseiIles is ample evil
dence that durum wheat, as a Duluth
exporter has said, has passed the ex-