The Delta independent., 1912-03-29
Prof. Buffum Establishes Seed
Breeding Farm.
His Most important Experiments Have
Been With Emmer-Useful as
Feed for Fattening Cattle.
Horses and Swine.

ter with which to irrigate what were
before large tracts of arid lands. For
the most part these lands have been
settled by experienced farmers from
the rain belts.
with the opening of the Big Horn
Basin to settlers by reason OF the
several irrigation projects, Prof. b. Z.
Buffum established near Worland a
plant and seed breeding farm. writes
Robert Bonewell in the Country Gen
tleman. Mr.. Buffum is strictly
product of the west and for several
years prior to establishing his expert
ment farm was an Instructor in the
agricultural colleges of both Colorado
and Wyoming During his experiment
tai work at the state stations he be-
came convinced that he had discov-
cred the proper methods OF improv-
Ing and producing new grains. After
carefully examining the different sec
tons OF the west he chose the pres
ent site OF his operations for the rea-
son that the altitude. the variety OF
soils and the climate furnish the prop
er conditions for breeding the hard
lest grains
His most important experiments
have been with emmer-a grain be-
longing to the wheat family-which
ditfes from wheat. however in having
two kernels OF grain each spikelet and
staying in the hull when threshed like
barley, 1t is a feed for fattening cat
tie, horses. sheep or swine. Spring
emmer. often wrongly called spelt, has
been grown successfully in the west
Tor number OF years, proving to be
OF considerable value The winter
emmer is a new and more valuable
grain recently introduced from Russia
by the department OF agriculture. AS
rule, winter grains give larger yields,
can be produced more cheaply and
succeed with much less moisture.
Professor Buffum secured some or
the first black emmer seed introduced
into this country and by applying
plant-breeding methods has secured
an improved variety that promises to
become one of the important winter
grains. BY placing the winter emmer
under the influence OF unusual condi-
tons of soil and treatment he so dis
turbed its appearance. constitution
and habit that number of mutations,
or sports, were secured. These have
given rise to such improv, It that
those acquainted with the OF s.nai en-
mer would hardly recognize the new.
Ii Is larger. darker. heavier in straw
and head and more prolific. Many OF
the heads double the spikelets, giving
the appearance of a composite wheat
Single heads weigh in many instances
4 hall ounce. So prolific is this grain
hat in four seasons the yield has in
creased from the first sporting plants
20 twenty thousand bushels this year.
Ii seems to be as hardy as winter rye.
and its severe test in different parts
of the northwest demonstrates that 1t
has solved the stock-feeding problem.
making possible the fattening of the
stock near the range, whereas previ-
ously the grower had to finish his
stock for market in the corn-belt
states
This grain RECEIVERS well in the
spring and the heavy straw prevents
falling, so common in most grains
where windstorms are frequent during
the growing season. Its stoollng pow
er is remarkable, In a field last sea
son one stool was noted containing
siXty-fiye straws, most OF which had
headed. A hundred bushels to the
acre was the average for the different
fields grown last season, although one
field on exceptionally good ground
made $50 bushels and parts probably
made as high as 200 bushels
This grain has held its improved
character for four years. which gives
confidence in its future 1t can be
grown anywhere that winter wheat
can be grown, and the enormous yield
should make 1t a most valuable addi-
ton to our farm crops. The seed has
been well distributed over the winter
wheat belt. and the coming season
will demonstrate its possibilities to a
wide area. Experiments have shown
that this improved winter emmer has
food value relatively greater than
oats for horses. Moreover, the ground
product has achieved local reputa-
ton as a breakfast food.
II takes from four TO a dozen years
OF the most difficult kind of scientific
work to breed and perfect a new
grain and the breeder can secure no
patent protection. The purchaser not
only buys the seed. but with 1t all the
rights to grow and sell his increase
at his own price. This fact has prob
ably deferred many from entering
such n profession and has limited the
field to so few that the results &C
complished are especially noteworthy.
The value to the country at large OF
grain that would even produce an in
crease of a bushel an acre is so great
that In the next few years undoub ted-
ly the grains and forage crops OF our
country will receive the attention
necessary to meet the demands OF
In rnxl.. manhattan