The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1911-05-13
WHEAT ON DRY FARM
BIuestem and Fife Varieties OF
Hard Spring Unsafe.
Durum, introduced From Southeastern
Russia Where Rainfall 10 Light,
Adapted to Climate Of West
tern Plains Area.

In a large part of the dry farming
territory the bluestem and fife varie-
ties of hard spring wheats are very
unsafe crops. Where bread wheats
can be grown, the Red Fife, selected
strains known as Johnson's Fife,
Golden Fife, ETC., are good yielders
and the berry is usually plump and
hard The millers, however. have
placed these varieties in a market
class designated as velvet chan, and
the price Is a few cents lower per
bushel than the bluestem varieties
bring. These latter include both
bearded and bald types. writes Man
ley Champlin in the Farmer and
Breeder. The variety known as pedi-
greed bluestem has given good re-
suits at the Highmore Satisfaction as
reported in Bulletin 115 OF the South
Dakota Experiment station. This sta
ton is situated near the eastern Dor
der of the dry farming belt.
Very little winter wheat Is grown
at present, but its early ripening and
good quality and yield Of grain are
interesting many of the progressive
farmers who have obtained some very
good results. The Minnesota station
advises its use only sparingly. Five
| acres is considered enough to start
with. If 1t proves to be well suited
to your conditions the acreage can be
increased There is danger of winter
killing, and too much dependence
should not be placed on this crop
Turkey Red and Kharkov are the com
mercial varieties grown.
Where bread wheat is grown witt
difficulty, Nature comes to the res
cue with the hard macaroni or durun
wheats. Until very recently there was
difficulty In marketing this class o.
wheat and even today the price is II
to 20 per cent lower than for hard
spring wheats of the bread varieties
This fact is probably due to the Amer
lean love OF white bread. The durun
wheat -four makes palatable, nutri
tious bread, but the yellow color hal
been inveighed against by fastidiou
CubJOhl. DullCIlu NV. . VI ILC buA ca
of plant industry gives an interesting
history of the trials the durum whea
grower has had to overcome, as wei
as advice as to how to plant, etc
These wheats were introduced fror
southeastern Russia, where the rail-
fall is light and the changes of ten
perature severe. They are, therefore
adapted to the climate of the wester
plains ara.
: In describing the characteristics {
macaront or durum whests Mr.. M. !
Carlton says In the above mentione
bulletin: 1.-THE wheats of this grou
grow rather tall and have stems tn;
, are either pithy within or hollow. {.
! The leaves are usually broad an
smooth, but have a peculiar whitis
? green color and possess an extremel
, harsh cuticle. The heads are con
, paratively slender in most varietie
, compactly formed, occasionally ver
a short, and are always bearded wit
q the longest boards known to wheat
The peculiar ability of the durul
wheats to resist drought and sevel
changes Of temperature as well {
their early ripening qualities and hig
r yielding capacity make them esp
a cially fitted for the needs of the dl
farmer. Here is money crop
which he is practically sure. tt
yields vary from 10 to IS bushels p,
acre. The Kubanka and Arnautka v
rieties have given the best results
this section.
A Emmer is widely grown as a su
y stitute feed grain where oats are s
a uncertain crop. 1t has not the fee
y ing value of oats, but when grou1
:, makes fairly good feed for any far
= stock. The chaff clings to the gra
when threshed, thus giving the or,
$ great bulk. There is not an establis
b ed market and farmers rarely gre
: more than enough for their own fee
!; The yields vary from 20 to 80 bushe
\ 80 being considered fair yield e.
! mer is commonly called speltz.