Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1908-09-12

set forth in a letter which is being
sent out to thousands of inquirers,
which says:
sWe know nothing about this wheat
except that we have seen a sample
and identified it in response to re-
quest from person in Idaho. This
kind of wheat has often been grown
in the mountain region, and is COM
monty known as miracle, or seven
headed wheat. 1t has composite
head. Heretofore we have not known
of any instance in which the wheat
yielded sufficiently more than others
to be particularly valuable for that
reason. On the other hand, it has us
ually given evidence of not being a
very good milling wheat, but know
nothing about the yield of this parti-
cular strain, and it may be something
better than the ordirary.''
DIR. B. T. Galloway, chief of the Bu-
reau of Plant Industry, has written q
letter to the Saturday Eevening Post,
which first published the story of the
marvellous grain, warning the farmers
against accepting too readily the re-
ports of enormous yields of wheat un-
til the department. had made an in
vestigation. By a composite wheat
is meant that the Alaska variety SO
grows that the head of the stalk con-
sists of number of smaller heads
clustered together. The sample heads
received by the department. are large
and healthy looking. The grain itself
is a white, rather soft wheat, the ker"
nels being considerably above the ay"
erage wheat in size.
When the whole story of the Adams
wheat is simmered down the Depart
ment of Agriculture officials think it
likely a strain of the same wheat that
has been grown for years in various
mountain regions Of the West will
have been developed that will be
valuable for some Of the dry regions
in the mountain states. They expect
nothing abnormal, and they say they
have no reasons to believe that the
wheat of the Alaska strain can be
grown generally through the country.
. Acting Secretary Hays of thee de-
partment who is wheat expert, is not
enthusiastic over the idea of a wheat
that will revoiutionize the
bread business, but he has given Or
ders that thorough Investigation be
made and that if there is any M crit i'm
the discovery of Mr.. Adams it. be
fully recognized.
One fact of great Importance has
been emphasized by the reports con-
cerning Alaska wheat. Tt isF that by
proper methods it is possible greatly
TO increase the yield of wheat in this
country. Mr.. Hays in conjunction
with officials of the experiment station
ut the University Of Minnesota, has
just completed two bulletins, which
will soon be published, which will tell
In detail the results of twenty years
Of experiments in the, improvements
Of grains aud crops in Minnesota. It
will be shown that through selection
Of seed and hybridizing, the grain
crops of Minnesota, the wheat, fax,
rye, oats and barley, have been i'm
proved and made to produce from 10
TO 20 per cent more. 1t is estimated
the value of Minnesota's grain crops
this y ear will be increased 100000
by these experiments.
What follows from the Minnesota
experience? Simply this-that what
has been done there can be done else
where. Assistant Secretary Hays has
no doubt that the wheat crop of this
now something over 6OO,-
100000 bushels, can, through the same
methods that have been successf1l In
Minnesota be increased to 7OO,OOO,0OS.
This does not SOUND as Impressive as
Mr.. Adams proposition, but what has
oeen accomplished in Minnesota would
seem to prove it is particable.