The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-06-02

tries, possibly for the same reason;
and in hot climates for some reason
not stated.
These pretensions have been bolst-
cred up by fanciful explanations of
its origin. According to one authori-
ty the probabilities are that the Jeru-
salem wheat, which DR.. Keemle had
in 1907, originated in Palestine. A
traveller brought small sheaf of it
back with him to Ireland and hung it
as a sign above the alehouse which he
kept in Dublin. A farmer CHANGED to
pick up some seeds from the sheaf,
planted them, and some years later
sold the produce OF several acres at
about $365 a, pound. Some of this
seed was brought over to America and
distributed among the members of the
Philadelphia Society for the Promo
ton of Agriculture. In this way it
probably came to the knowledge of
DR.. Keemle. The members of the So
ciety, however, do not appear to have
appreciated it, for it created no stir in
this country.
This is the most authentic explana-
ton Of its introduction that We have.
A favorite story with promoters is to
the effect that when the coffin of an
Egyptian mummy 5000 or 1000 years
old was opened some wheat was found
in it. The seed was planted, but only
a single kernel grew. This, however
was wonderful yielder and very diff
ferent from any other wheats known
This story is responsible for such
names as Mummy" wheat 5000
years old" Egyptian" and Miracle
1t is. of course, an absurdity, for even
under the most favorable conditions
seeds of wheat do not keep their vi
tally more than few years.
| In 1908 this wheat was brought for
ward again, this time not as product
of Egypt, but of Alaska. 1t was as
serted that an Idaho farmer had founc
in secluded spot of the Alaskan
coast wheat plant with brancheC
head. He had brought back one head
sowed it's seed that fall Gin loO4), OBJ
tanned 7 pounds to SOW in 1905, anc
by 1906 had l,545 pounds, an increase
Of 220 fold. From this it was arguet
that one bushel of seed per acre would
produce 220 bushels. A sced-grail
company had obtained the seed from
the farmer and would dispense it a
the rate of $40 per bushel.
Upon investigation the department
found that about 700 acres of TIL,
wheat were being grown for the com
pany in Idaho. The average yielc
per acre was estimated, not at 22l
bushels, but at Is bushels. Unde
identical conditions well-known whea
varieties of the Pacific Northwes
were yielding fully as much or more
and good farmers in the neighborhooC
were not growing the wonderful
wheat
This investigation was followed b,
a warning notice from the department
) and also by a fraud order from TIL
post office department against the ad
} vertising material circulated by tn
) company. In spite of this fact, how
: ever, another campaign was begun il
1909 and in 1915 the wheat was act
: ually placed on exhibition at the Pana
5 ma-Pacihc Exposition. Last year ais
} the same wheat was offered for sal
at 81 bushel under the name O
, Egyptian seven-headed wheat A
other times this wheat has been sol
, as Eldorado, Many-headed, Many
) spiked, and Wild Goose.
"Stoner" or Miracle" Wheat.
The claims made by the promoter
e of the '"Stoner" or Miracle whea
: are fully as exaggerated, though les
i. romantic, than those of the Alaska at
vocated. The Stoner wheat belong
4 to the soft red winter wheats con
monty grown in the eastern Unite
States from the Atlantic coast to til
Mississippi river. According to il
discoverer, in the spring OF 1904 h
noticed a large bunch of grass in h
garden which, when headed, prove
to be wheat. 1t had ZAP steams {
tillers, and he became convinced tn;
its remarkable tillering capacity woul
make it a very wonderful wheat. III
three great advantages which he "a
serted that this wheat possessed wei
"a that it would outyield any oth'
variety anywhere; (2) that it sent Il
more stems from one seed than an
other variety of wheat; and CD tn;
20 pounds of seed per acre produce
the maximum Yields while other vari
ties required l20 pounds.
These assertions were investigate
by the Department of Agriculture
much more extensive experiment
than it made with the Alaska whea
These tests show that the Ston'
wheat is not so good as some OF IL
wheats grown in the eastern half
the United States, but it is somewh
better than others. On the whole,
y is of average value. In comparati'