The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1908-12-24
Information Concerning "Alaska"
Wheat.

Wheat.
BY R. E. Hyslop, agronomist Idaho
Experiment Station
On account of the numerous inqui-
riea coming into our station we find it
necessary to issue this press bulletin
concerning the so-called Alaska"
wheat
This wheat, when given ample field
space or conditions favorable to the
individual plant, has branching
head borne on rather tough straw
at height OF between ionr and five
feet The mesh bears two and three
kernels. When grown under close
field conditions the head tends to be
much smaller, branches less, and the
mesh bears from one to two Kernels
very seldom three II heads grown
under these conditions alone were ex-
amined the impression would be OBJ
tanned that this wheat never bears
but two kernels to the mesh, mis-
take which some writer's appear to
have made.
The Boards, while not numerous,
are dark in color and considerably
stronger than we find on our common
wheats, but not SO long or stiff as
those found on the Drums or Maca
rOnf wheats. The normal kernel is
light in color, short and plump, with
an unusually open groove which al
lows the kernel to be easily broken in
| threshing. A cross section shows the
interior to be white and powdery with
| comparatively *little horny starch.
The shrunken kernels naturally are
harder.
Taking everything into considera-
| ton | am led to conclude that this is
the Egyptian or Miracle wheat, Pou-
lard, and that it belongs to that var
iety of the Egyptian known as Edo
RADIO, which is very closely related to
the Seven-headed variety.
The Poulards are peculiarly adapt
ed to dry regions, but never have been
grown to any extent in America. Their
yields have never proved to be of such
nature as to warrant their extern
sive growth, even for stock food. And
the inferiority of the -four produced
from them has prevented their use to
any extent for the production of
bread.
The high yields claimed for the
wheat in this section of the country, in
some cases 277 bushels per acre, are
fabulous. One Of the promoters states
that from one head of the wheat he
obtained seven pounds, from these
seven pounds he produced 1545
pounds, or yield in round numbers
4 Of 220 fold 1t is from these figures
that the yields noted in the various
papers, and in the circular of the
Adams-Hobe Seed Grain company, OF
Juliaette, Idaho, are computed. TIC
show the Righteousness of computing
yields in this way, we determined in q
couple of cases, the number of grains
produced from one seed of Little Club
grown under favorable conditions in
our breeding plat. One plant pro-
duced 1176, the other 1900 kernels
Now, reasoning as this seed company
has done, II we should plant one bush.
ell OF this Little Club to the acre, we
would obtain 117t or 1900 bushels
even for Idaho
This year, the company had TOO
acres in the wheat grown on different
farms in this locality. A thirty-acre
tract near Moscow, which was thresh.
ed in the middle OF Angst went about
thirty-two bushels per acre. Mr.
Adams stated at that time that his
best yields had been thirty-five bush
, els. He supplemented this remark
however, with the statement that his
, stands were poor In every case. Blu
considering the large acreage, the fac
that several different farmers grew thu
crop, and the effect of close stant
noted above, we must take this as al
J indication at least, of the yielding
power of the wheat This, however
, would not be considered an extr;
r large yield for this country.
The analysis of the wheat upol
| which the company appears to base it
| hopes amounts to practically moth
, ing In determining the bread maxim!
quality of the flour. 1t is true, tina
: Bluestem wheat which analyses high
, er in protein than Little Club makes
: better quality of flour, but it is ais
q true that Macaroni wheat whicl
analyses higher in protein than Blue
I stem makes a lower class of flour, an
/ consequently is Disseminated agains
' by the miller. The low grade flour
y turned out from our mills usual
q show a higher protein content tina
: the patent. Corn has cOnsiderabl
1 protein, but the chemist seems unabl
/ to find any gluten chat all essentia
: part Of good flour) Even If tn
q chemist had found high gluten cor
n tent in Alaska" wheat, we would sti
n not be justified in concluding that tn
wheat would make good quality {
e flour. The proof Of the wheat is tn
! bread II will make.
ri Upon our request the company hs
q promised to have a milling test mad
9 soon Until this test is made. how
:. ever, We must assume that the whet
a will make no better flour under tn
E name Of Alaska" than 1t did whe
! known a. Wheat Of Miracle"
a In spite of all the beautiful storie
) which have been written concernin
d the origin of this wheat, regardless I
i the many wonderful things which hay
been imagined about its quality, an
/ taking into consideration the impre
n sion % to yield, which has 30 xxi
a fully been thrown broadcast through
i out the American continent by tn
i seed company. who advertise the
4 wheat for sale At $4,000 per bushs
n we have yet to ind any points Of mer
= In It which would warrant the publ
- =