Grand Forks herald., 1922-05-15
News and Notes As %


Kota is variety of common spring
wheat which is being used in crosses
with other hard spring wheat in an
attempt to produce wheat that will
be rust resistant and at the same time
have desirable milling and baking
qualities. This wheat was first
brought into this country in 1898
from Russia by Professor H. L. BOZ
ley of the State Agricultural college
of North Dakota, who had been max
ing study of the fax industry in
Europe for the United States depart
ment of agriculture. In 1911, Mr..
at the substation at Dickinson discov-
cred a common bearded spring wheat
among the heads of the durum. or
Monad wheat, which Professor Bolley
had brought over. Separating this
seed from the drum and exposing it
to stem rust, its discoverers found it
to be hard wheat, resistant to the
forms of stem rust prevalent in North
Dakota.
Nearing Perfection.
This was most important discov-
cry for while the experiments for the
production of a rust resistant wheat
of good milling qualities had been
carried on for number of years with
crossing of durums and hard wheats,
it seemed impossible to obtain a
wheat that would combine all the best
qualities of both. This rust resistant
hard wheat was. then, find Per-
fection is by no means claimed for
this wheat, but it is certain that its
milling qualities are good. In nine
out of IL important milling factors it
exceeds Marquis, the most perfect of
all wheats. from the milling stand
point. The samples for the milling
experiments conducted by the depart
ment hav~ been drawn from 80 ex-
perimental stations in the spring
wheat producing sections of the coun-
try.
The chief virtues of Kota, as COM
pared with Marquis. are its heavy
weight per bushel, its higher grade,
greater crude protein, higher yield Of
flour and exceptionally high water
absorption. 1t has proven about equal
to Marquis in loaf volume and superb
or in texture, but slightly poorer in
color. 1t has high ash in the -four
which is disadvantage from SELL
ing standpoint but does not affect
its inherent value.
In general, the milling tests show
ed Kota to produce somewhat less
-four than the average of other wheat
OScu III tHc Ddh1u6 ScolS dhA-
ed it very high as a bread, wheat, as
it markedly exceeded the other COM
mon wheats except Marquis, which it
equalled.
In addition to it's undeniable rust
resistance, kotas resistance to
drought makes it a very promising
wheat fo~ North Dakota, especially
for the western part Of the state. Its
drawbacks seem to be confined to
weak stem and susceptibility to leaf
rust. 1t is also day or two later in
than Marquis. However,
the breeding experiments that are be-
ing conducted aim to correct these
Kota Yields Wen.
Kota was first raised in North Da-
kota in increased quantities in 1911
by farmers near the station at Lang
don, but it was not until 1913, after
it's rust resistance was definitely
known that it became commercially
established. That year Professor
Bolie-- sent bushel to Jalmer HERE,
a farmer near Kelso. who was the
first farmer to increase it. In 1920
Mr.. HERE seeded a twenty acre tract
per acre, while at the same time his
Marquis wheat in adjoining fields
gave yield of 11.5 bushels per acre.
To the layman, the experiments
conducted by the department seem
highly complicated and when he
learns that the country's greatest ex-
perts have been working for Is years
to secure an ideal wheat, working
both winter and summer, using the
fields in summer and the greenhouses
in winter for their study of the cross
ed wheats he gets some idea Of the
magnitude OF the problem. A wheat
kota may not be in Minnesota or Wis
consin. There is crly one hard wheat
that 10 resistant to all forms Of rust
(over FL different varieties have 10
Tar been discovered and the biologists
seem hopseful Of finding yet many
more). That wheat is Iumillo. II
has been under test for about Is
years. It IL not raised commercially,
~ It has very poor milling Qualities.
But II. ID now being crossed with
Marquis to make rust resistant
sufficiently Food to make 1t CONNER
5cially valuah1e. 3 :5
". Hope Alaaad. s
Altogether there seenns toe be hope
ahead for the wheat raisern y The
.eradication Of bar berry bushes viii do
much to- check the inroade Of rust, ana
the prodncE3 lon Of ~ hAPd wheat OF ex-
.cellsnt imilling qualities and resistant
10 stenf fpst seems to ~ = prospect
~ the! not ysry mt fttnre !: #
B B It wiiI md edly III off interest
70 asnaanys NcEtf u1kge ~ 10 know
Tut 80 1f The nen ft the Unttsd