Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-08-22
NEW WHEAT
FROM ALASKA.
An Entirely New And Prolific
Variety That viii yield 100
Bushels Per Acre.

A miracle in wheat, which promises
a revolution in the wheat industry Of
the world, has been discovered in Alaska.
This is the production of new variety
of wheat by farmer in Idaho a grain
which yields from 100 to 200 bushels
per acre, instead of the twenty or
thirty bushels of ordinary wheat; which
can be grown successfully in any part
of this country; withstands heavy winds
and even hailstorms grades up to
''No. hard, and produces superior
-four.
Discovery of the new wheat came
about through one of the accident" "
which make the story OF the worlds
progress.
Mr.. Abraham Adams is the fortunate
discoverer. Mr.. Adams was lumber
man. but six years ago took up farming,
and with fair crops of club" and blue
stem" wheat made moderate success.
In 1903 he went to Alaska, lured by the
tales Of hidden gold The prospector
explored the lonely land for hundreds
of miles.
One day while tramping he came
across patch of yellowing green which
reminded him queerly of growing wheat
He went closer and found it was wheat.
More for curiosity than anything else,
| kA knrSaI fnr raa1 tn canH hnFt1n ~
the States. Birds had eaten most
of the grain, but at last he came across
perfect head and plucked it.
Its size and apparently perfect form
amazed him. The head was nearly four
inches long and heavily bearded. The
kernels numbered three or four times
as many as those of ordinary wheat
and each was nearly as large as a coffee
bean.
1t was in the fall of 1904 that Adams
planted the big seeds from Alaska in
the back yard of his Idaho ranch. The
next spring he gathered a sheaf of big
heads which yielded seven pounds Of
grain. Seven pounds of grain from one
head sown!
Moreover, the kernels, four times as
large as those of the best wheat he had
grown hitherto, were firm and cream
white
From those seven pounds he harvested
in the autumn l545 pounds of grain.
1
The ratio of yield the new wheat being
much heavier than the ordinary varieties
was 222 bushels to acre Thirty bushels
an acre is considered good crop of
CLUB" or "blue stem
In the fall of 1906 Adams sowed his
l545 pounds of the new seed alongside
of paintings of the ordinary varities.
and gave them the same attention.
Unripened heads plucked on the same
day showed an astonishing difference.
The head of Alaska wheat was nearly
five times as large as the other, with
proportionately large kernels. From
the l545 pounds of seed Adams har-
vested SO, 900 pounds of grain.
Moreover, he found that the new
variety was far sitter and stronger in
the straw than the ordinary kind. A
haiIstorm which beat down the club"
wheat hardly damaged the Alaska field.
Mr.. Adams has also tested his wheat
by sending samples to be planted by
friends in different parts Of the country.
In Alabama the seed from single
head was planted last December. and,
as in Idaho. the yield was seven pounds.
Mr.. Adams expects to clear 81 900, 00O
this year from his 700-acre farm in
Julieatta Idaho. He estimates his crop
at 20, 900 to rs. 900 bushels. and lis selling
it for seeds at $20a bushel
News of the wonderful new wheat
has interested the Department of Agri-
culture in Washington. and w. NJ. Jar
dine. agronomist on dry land cereals,
will visit Adams ranch to inspect the
product.
1t is difficult to grasp what yield OF
200 bushels of wheat per acre would
mean to the country. Such harvest.
if universal. would have made the
wheat production of the United States
last year !, 900, O0O. 600 bushels At only
so cents per bushel this would have ad-
ded 81, 500, OOO. 600 to the wealth of the
American farmer.
Chronic Diarrhoea Cured.