Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-04-30

SEEDING PROBLEMS
+ !. =. i
Some Interesting Information on
Three Important. Though Mi
nor, Northwestern Crops.

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

S...s. !.
Among growers of grain in the
three Northwestern states the Ques-
ton of durum tmacaroni) 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 demon strated.
| 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 a rainfall more than nor
NAL. .,
What the final result Of continued
servings in sections of excessive rain
fall and its 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 Ger.
tain extent, goes without question. Its
!, adaptability for such sections and I'm.
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. this year
could enough of it have been fur
nishsd. $685.. ~
: 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
aceived at Duluth has been sold for ex
4 port, and the remarkable feature Of it
: at the present time, Is that durum
5 wheat at the seaboard Is selling TO,
i 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
I ing of navigation it is probable that
t durum at Duluth will be selling even
l. with or higher than the corresponding
grades of spring wheat. 49, r..
All the causes that have contributed
, to the extraordinary demand for du
rum are hard to anaiyze at this time
coming more or less as surprise tc
I the whole trade. 1t was said to be due
1 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 a shortage
OF any kind.
It was also intimated that 1t was be
= ing used exclusively for making mac
aroni, this being assumed because o,
It the fact that the Mediterranean port.
|. were the largest users of it, although
there Is room for doubling that an,
, such quantity OF wheat Is used fol
nacaroni a =
, Whatever the reason for the de
mand, it seems likely that 1t will con
" tinue to sell in the worlds market!
at very close to the price of othel
l. wheats. On March 2 the price of Rus
q sian wheats and durum was identicali,
the same in European markets. IS t
50 cents per .bushel. Durun has come
to stay. and must be reckoned will
5. hereafter among our permanent whea
~ | CIOpS VI the northwest. II QONeSrlS
mills refuse it, the demand abroad will
n no doubt continue to absorb our sur
7 plus to the detriment of our othe,
:, wheats. AS regards its yield owe
= other wheats there is no question Blu
what It has the advantage by from
4 three to eight bushels per acre, al
e conditions considered.
Il The only suggestion that the writel
Ii would make is that when seeded Ii
: sections enjoying an average rainfall
( Of twenty to thirty inches It should b
put on the highest soil to be found, OF
y the hills and not in the valleys or Low
lands Insist on seed that is absolutel,
4 free OF other wheats, and II possible Il
!; obtain It use nothing but No. 1 durum
vi @ Fiaxseed.
e. Owing to the low prices preyailin,
Z for fiaxseed last fall there seems to 81
q tendency to cut It out, and i'd thi
ef the writer believes mistake will b
il made IA 81 .s5i5 81 III IA