Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1906-04-06
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: SEEDING PROBLEMS /:
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. Some Interesting Information on
Three Important, Though Mi .
. nor, Northwestern Crops. :

By Chas. H. Thornton, Publisher
Duluth Commercial Record.

T. Duluth Commercial Record. ::
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Among growers of grain in the
three Northwestern, states the ques.
| ton of durum {macarOnD wheat un-
doubtedly exceeds in interest all others.
This is natural, from the fact that
its future as dependable, profit grow
ing cereal, based upon it's real worth
as staple product for the Northwest
ern farmer, is still to be demonstrated.
What is it worth? What is the real
truth as to it's milling value? How
much more will it yield per acre than
fife or blue stem? What are the ex,
port prospects this coming fall 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 a 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-
ent conclusions.
| The we'll known facts about durum
| wheat are that it was imported and
fostered by the United States agricul-
tural department for semi-arid regions
of the Dakotas and other Western
| states, but that it 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 rainfall more than nor
mai
| What the final result of continued
sowings in sections of excessive rain
fall and it's bearing on the quality of
durum would be has not yet been
| demonstrated, but that heavy soil and
excessive rains are injurious and de-
| teriOrating in their effects, to a GER
tain extent. goes without question. Its
| adaptabiity for such sections and un
der such conditions has never been ad-
vocated by the agricultural depart
| ment 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 is a question about the foreign.
| ers desires in the matter of quality,
end this point must be strongly en-
phasized. They do not want anything
| poorer than No. 2, and would not have
| taken anything but No. / this year,
| could enough OF it 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-
| ceived at Duluth has been sold for ex-
port, and the remarkable feature of it,
at the present time, is that durum
| wheat at the seaboard is selling for
| export at prices better than can be
| obtained for spring wheat in the same
position, and is in good demand. If
| this demand keeps up until the open
ing of navigation it 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
to the extraordinary demand for du-
rum are hard to analyze at this time,
| coming more or less as surprise to
the whole trade It was said to be due
| to a 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
It was also intimated that it was be-
Ing used exclusively for making mac
Aronf, this being assumed because of
the fact that the Mediterranean ports
were the largest users of it, although
there is room for doubling that any
such quantity of wheat is used for
mAcaroni. -
Whatever the reason for the de.
mand, it seems likely that it will con-
| tinue to sell in the worlds markets
at very close to the price of other
| wheats. On March the price of Rus
| sian wheats and dlrum was fdentically
the same in European markets, IS to
% cents per bushel. Dupum has come
10 stay, and must be reckoned with
hereafter among our permanent wheA
crops of the Northwest. If domestic
mills refuse it, the demand abroad will
no doubt continue to absorb our sur
plus to the detriment of our other
wheats.'' AS regards it's yield over
other wheats there is no question but
what it has the advantage by from
three to eight bushels per acre, all
conditions considered. ...
The only ~suggestion that the writer
would make is that when seeded in
sections enjoying an average rainfall
Of twenty to thirty inches it should be
put on the lightest soil to be found, on
the hills and not in the valleys or low
lands. Insist on seed that is absolutely
free of other wheats. and if possible to
obtain it use nothing but No. durum
A.! flaxseed.