The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-04-05
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! SEEDING PROBLEMS ::
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Some Interesting Information en- ::
: Three important, Though Mi :;
: nor, Northwestern Crops. j
2 i
BY Chas. H. Thornton, Publisher
Duluth Commercial Record.
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SlOWSlS VI Gill LII Lie
three Northwestern states the ques-
ton of durum (macaronD wheat IN
doubtedly exceeds in interest all Others
This is natural, from the fact that
its future as a dependable, profit grow
ing cereal, based upon it's real worth
as staple product for the Northwest
ern farmer, is still to be demonstrated
truth as to its 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
b given, but review of the crop
years of 19o4-5 and 1866, with other
facts of present knowledge bearing on
tho subject will undoubtedly prove Of
value to the Northwestern farmers in
permitting them to arrive at indepeud-
ent conclusions.
The well known facts about durum
wheat are that it was imported and
festered 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 a rainfall more than nor
NAL.
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: It's
adaptability for such sections and IN
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
er's desires in the matter of quality,
and this point must be strongly en-
phasized. They do not want anything
poorer than No. 2, and would not have
taken anything but No. l this year,
could enough of it have been fur
aished.
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 seabeard is selling for
export at prices better than can be
obtained for spring wheat in the same
position, and is in good demand. II
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. 1t 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 a shortage
of any kind.
1t was also intimated that it was be-
Ing used exclusively for making mac
areni, 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-
t1nue 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, 95 tc
~ cents per bushel. Durum has come
to stay, and must be reckoned with
hereafter among our permanent wheat
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
tree of other wheats, and if possible to
obtain 1t use nothing but No. / durum.
Flaxseed.
Owing to the low prices prevailing
tor flaxseed last fall there seems to be
tendency to cut it out, and in this
the writer believes a mistake will be
made.
Tho oorparotiv lon,