The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-21

~" fttb' hdNt bttII wv
tanned. Milling tests have shown also
that in this respect Alaska wheat
is not as good az many other widely
grown varieties.
These facts, however. have not pre-
vented the promoters at various times
from asserting hat Yields of from
100 to 2221a bushels an acre can bc
ohtained from this wheat. In particu-
lar they have urged IL az a valuable
variety for the vermont farms of the
East because with such fields farmers
can aWofd to use fertilizers. Accord
IN. 10 one circular. the wheat -four.
ishes in dry countries because its ma.
tive home. Alaska. is dry. in COLI
countries. possibly FOR the same rea-
son. and in hot countries for some
reason not stated.
These p~retensions have been boil
stored w by fanciful explanations OF
It's origin According TO one authority
the probabilities ate that the .Jerusa-
lem wheat, which DR.. keemle had in
lSO1, originated in Palestine. A trav-
eller brought "A small sheaf OF IL back
with him to Ireland and hung IL AS
a sign above the ale house which n.
Kept in Dublin. A farmer CHANGED to
pick up some seeds from the sheaf.
planted them and some years late.
sold the produce of several acres q;
about 1885 "A pound. Some Of this
seed was brought over To America AMI
distributed among the members of tho
'hiIadelphia Society FOR the Promo
ton Of Agriculture. In this way il
probably came To the knowledge OF
Or. keemle. The members OF the 30.
cietN. however. do not appear to have
appreciated IL. for It created no stir
tins country.
THIS is the most authentic explana-
ton of its introduction that we have.
A favorite story with promoters Is to
the enec that when the coffin OF an
Egyptian mummy 5000 or 1000 years
old was opened some wheat was found
In II. The seed was planted. but only
a single kernel grew. This, however.
was "a wonderful yielder and very diff
ferent from any other wheat known.
This story IL responsible for sucn
names as Mummy wheat 1000
years old" Egyptian and Miracle"
II Is. OF course. an absurdity. for even
unde h most favorable conditions
seeds OF wheat do not keep their vi
tality more than a few years.
In 1908 this wheat was brought for
ward again, this time not ~ a product
OF Egypt. but OF Alaska wheat. II was
Asserted that an Idaho farmer had
found in a secluded spot OF the Alas
kan coast a wheat plant with n
branched head. lie had brought back
one head. sowed It's seed thai fall on
l90i), obtained seven pounds to SOW
in 1905. II by 1906 had i.S45 pounds.
an increase Of c20 fold. From this +,
was argued that one bushel of seed an
acre would produce o2o bushels. \
seed grain company had obtained the
seed from the farmer and would dis
pense IL AT the rate Of $50 a bushel.
Upon investigation the Department
found that about 700 acres Of the
wheat were being grown for the COM
pany in Idaho. The average yield per
acre was estimated. not al 22O bushels.
hut at 25 bushels. Under Identical
conditions we'll known wheat varietie IS
Of tho Pacific Nor,hwes, were Weld
ing fully as much or more. and goo,
farmers in the ueichhorhooi were not
growing the wonderful wheat.
This investigator was followed by
a warning notice from the department
and also by u fraud order from til
Post Once Department asa.nst the adj
vertising material circulated 10y III
company. In spite OF this fact how
: ever. another campaign war begun in
1909, and in 1915 the wheat was actu-
/, ally placed on exhibition at the Pan
, arna-Pacifc Exposition Last veal
also the same wheat was offered for
sale at 81 a bushel under the name
: OF Egyptian seven headed wheat. A.
} other times this wheat has been sold
as Eldorado. Many Headed. Many
? Spiked, Multiple Headed. Reed. Smyr-
. ma. Syrian and Wild Goose.
D "Stoner" or "Miraclr' wheat.
| The claims made by the promoters
OF the "Stoner" or Miracle" wheat ar.
fully as exaggerated. though less 70.
mantle, than those Of the Alaska Id.
p voca,ed. The Stoncr wheat belongs
20 the soft red winter wheats com.
monty crown in the eastern I'nit,t
States from the Atlantic coast To tho
Mississippi River. According TO M
d~iscovercr. in the spring uf 1904 h.
noticed a large bunch of grass In hi.
p garden which, when headed. proved tr
ne wheat. II had lac stems or till.rs
land he became convinced that it's re-
markahlr tillering capacity woult
maxi" II a very wonderful wheat. TIL,
thee great ADVANTAGES which he as.
sor'"d that this wheat possessed were
80 that II would ou'yield any othe,
: variety anywhere t2) that II sen, III
more stems rom n seed than any
g o'nor variety ~ wheat, and go tina
-, 20 pounds OF seed an acre produce,
;he maximum Yields while other va,
rictjrs required 100 pounds.
: These assertions were investigate,
10y the Department of Agriculture il
, much more extensive experiment.
than II made with the Alaska wheat
| These tests show that the Stone
wheat Is not so good rs some NJ tn,
= wheats now grown in the eastern hal
=. Of the United States. hut j. sumewha
better than Others. ON the whole, 1
IL Of average value IN rumparaiIv
" tests, however, u has never outyieldc.
= all other varieties, and many Of thes,
|, varieties surpassed T.. Common va
:, rieties have exceeded II in the numbc
OF stalks on u PLAN. Ns for TIA, rat,
y Of seeding, the tests show that Yield
of this variety are increased whcl
sown at rates Of seeding higher tina;
those advocated by the promoters.
The d~iSCOVcrer desired Ia have HI