Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1908-09-23
ALASKA WHEAT is A EAKs.
boosted as a Wonder, 1t is Really a
Humbug--Facts Revealed.
(Charlotte observer.)

pecting trip iii the wilds of Alaska
several years ago, are being circulat-
ed I'm Mecklenburg county by the
Adams-Hobe Seed Grain Company OF
Juliaetta, Idaho, for the purpose of
deceivfng farmers into purchasing
some of the seed Gin limited quanti-
ties only, payment strictly In advance,
at $50 a bushel." In view of the
fact that this new wheat Is nothing
more nor less than fake SO far as
doing what Its promoters claim for,
1t. warning is given lest any one
be deceived
And the fake has been well adyer-
tised
! One Of the most-talked-of and
widely copied articles that has ap-
peared In the Saturday Evening Post
of recent years, was that a few weeks
ago, entitled, "A Marvel in Wheat"
which was a fulsome account of the
revolution which this new Alaska
type would shortly bring about I'm
the wheat-grow!ng inaustr: of the
country. The article appearing in
such a reputable publication and hav-
ing the evident backing of such re-
sponsible parties, created no end Of
talk, particularly among those inter-
ested in the wheat-growiDg business.
The article was reproduced in large
number of substantial farm papers
and the fame of the new Alaska
wheat was blazoned from one end of
the country to the other.
! Mr.. Moore Investigates.
Edgar 3. Moore, manager of the
Selwyn Hotel, of this city, and pro-
prietor Of the well-known Selwyn
Farm, was one Of the first men to
read this article in the Saturday
Evening Post. He was much i'm
pressed with it, being something of
an expert in wheat himself, and yet
was too good farmer to accept all
the statements contained therein
without thorough investigation.
His first step was to write to the
editors Of The Post and ask them
what they knew of the new wheat
lows:
Editorial Rooms,
The Saturday Evening Post,
| Curtis Publishing Co.
e. B. Moore, Charlotte, N. G..
Dear Sir: Mr.. Days article was
accepted and printed during the alb
sence of the editor of The Saturday
Evening Post on his vacation; and
without, he feels, sufficient investiga-
tion of the facts to warrant its pub
lication. He Is consequently send
I w
gate the matter carefully, and should
the result confirm Mr.. Days state
ments, we shall be glad to send you
full particulares.
Yours very truly.
| .... The Editors.
In the course of week or two the
report OF this expert was received.
In word, 1t shows that the article
In question was aNgross exaggeration
and the statements given therein,
which were considered so marvellous,
were woefully overdrawn. The fol-
lowing is the report which was wired
in to the editors:
The Experts Report. ..
Assertions of huge crops or good
fiour-making qualities not justified.
Adams only claim of proportion of
two hundred bushels an acre is with
an eighth Of an acre patch two years
ago. For last year admits farm av-
erage only thirty bushels. So far
this year only twenty-five to thirty
five an acre. Offers excuses such as
weeds and underground. Not true
that wheat has been successfully
grown elsewhere. Misleading to say
frost-proof, for admits some injury
by snow. Flour-making qualities un-
known. Adams was given expert
| dhdlySlS ldSI year anu
told with 1t that milling test was
necessary to show the quality with
certainty. Has not had the test.
The wheat in appearance IS much
like certain large, coarse wheats not
valuable for -four" " VIZ
Not satisfied with his letter of in
quiry to the editors Of the Saturday
Evening Post, Mr.. Moore wrote to
the Minneapolis Chamber of Com
merce, the great flour center of the
country, asking for information re-
garding the new Alaska variety The
reply which he received was to the
effect that no such wheat had come
into the hands of tho Minnesota
dealers. and consequently nothing
could be said of It,
The Fake Disclosed.
And then hard and fast upon the
heels Of this came through the mails
to various parties in the city and
county the following circular from
the Adams-Hobe Seed Grain Com
pany, Of Juliaetta, Idaho, self-styled
"the originators and producers of
Alaska wheat" boosting the won
ders Of this marvellous variety of ce-
real which has. so the circular reads,
a producing quality almost unbe-
bushels to the acre, according to the
soil" Continues the circular:
Don't waste time! Start your
fields to bring you big money. Thirty
million of acres are waiting for
Alaska wheat seed and 1t will take
some time to supply 1t. For three
years at least Alaska wheat will be
scarce. So 1T is advisable to get
your farm started at once.