Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-01-15
MACARoNI WHEAT,


Induced by reports of the drouth 'e-
sisting quality. hardness and its abil-
ity to produce good crops on semi
alkali soils. the department of ag"i
culture introduced durum wheat into
the United States in 1899 and it now
looks as though it would soon be one
Of the leading cereal crops in the arid
and semi-arid West
In this country it is known as mac
9roni taking its name from the prod
uct extensively made from this grade
of wheat. The first seed came from
Russia and North Africa. In 1901 the
United States crop was estimated at
$4,000 bushels; in 1905, 100000 bush
els, more than one-fourth of which
will be exported
Macaroni Is the hardest of all
wheats, the drier the climate the hard
er the grain. In moist climates it is
softer and soon deteriorates In quail.
ity Too much water applied in irri-
eating also spoils the quality. In Rus.
sia the maximum yield is obtained on
semi-alkali soils, where the rainfall
does not exceed II inches annually.
We believe that within few years
1t will become one of the most import
ant cereal crops in Colorado and New
Mexico Especially where the rainfall
Is sufficient to carry on the Campbell
system of dry farming and in places
where water available for irrigation
is limited. A small patch raised here
in 1904 made the finest show of any
wheat raised along the San Juan river.
We failed to learn the yield but II
could not help but he above the .av-
erage.
The average yield is said 10 be from
one-fourth to one-half more than that
OF the standard varieties, and contains
II per cent of protein against II per
cent in the standard sorts. This gives
1t greater feeding value.
The main drawback to its populari-
ty at first was the fact that grain
dealers refused to handle 1t. How
ever millers have discovered they
can grind it without the introduction
Of new and costly machinery, so this
Inconvenience is now thing of the
past
Much of the flour is now used in the
manufacture of macaroni, spaghetti,
pretzels and noodles, but can be made
into bread, biscuit, etc. The -four is
Of different color and the bread re-
sembles in color that made from rye,
and Is sweet and much more nutri-
tious.
The wheat is sown in the spring in
the North. while farther south 1t be-
comes winter wheat. 1t is sown
some thicker than the standard sorts,
abou, one and one-half bushels to the
acre, but the culture is the same as
for othe varieties.
Whether our mills and elevators
handle 1t or not, we believe 1t can be
raised here at decided profit for use
as stock feed. especially as a feed
for hogs in connection with alfalfa.
sugar beets OF field peas. It mas the
advantage of corn, as it can be grown
with less labor, Is much surer crop
In this region. and also can be grown
where 1t is impossible TO grow corn
at profit. Tests have proven that
wheat makes an excellent grain feed
for horses, hogs. sheep and poultry.
If properly fed.
A few years ago friend OF mine
made test OF feeding hogs on wheat.
The hogs were weighed and couute
Al market value. Likewise all feed
was weighed. The test proved that
hogs could be fed on wheat at 81 per
bushel ($l,67 per cwt) at a profit,
when hogs bring $500 per cwt., liye
weight, on the market Where the
hogs could be grown mostly on alfalfa.
sugar beets, etc. the profit wonld be
decidedly satisfactory. To raise pork
exclusively on corn diet at $l.56
per cwt. would make the pork cost
us from &c to l0c per pound
W. A. BALLINGER.