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this wheat becomes harder and is generally improved in quality. This was shown 

 by comparing the wheat grown each year in succession from the original seed. The 

 sample sent out was a pure hard wheat, bright and clean, weighing 66^ pounds to 

 the imperial bushel and yielded about 35 bushels per acre. We requested a state- 

 ment from Mr. Plaxton as to his experience in growing the wheat, and following we 

 give it in his own words : — 



* 'In 1888 I got three lbs. and sowed it on the *7th May, and harvested it on the 

 SOth of August; thrashed 96 lbs. of good clean gfain. In 1889 I sowed 96 lbs. on the 

 16th April, covering about an acre of land, sowed broadcast. Harvested it on the 

 6ih of August and threshed 14 bushels 68 lbs. of first-class wheat. The crop was 

 light this year on account of the drought. In 1890 I sowed five acres on the 22nd 

 of April, sowed bi'oadcast about two bushels per acre and harvested it on the 15th of 

 August and threshed 172 bushels of which you have a sample. This year (1890) I 

 had Eed Fife wheat, White Eussian and Ladoga, sown side by side on the same kind 

 of soil. The Ladoga ripened and was cut five days earlier than White Russian and 

 ten days earlier than the Eed Fife. 



" ' Yours truly, Wm. Plaxton. 



"Following are some of the replies received to the samples sent out : — 



"From the Northwestern Miller, of Minneapolis, the leading milling journal of 

 the United States : ' Truly a remarkable sample.' 



" From Daily Business, the grain trade paper, of the Chicago Board of Trade : 

 ' The Daily Business has received from the Winnipeg Commercial, a sample of 

 " Ladoga " wheat, raised in the Prince Albert district, territory of Saskatchewan, 

 350 miles north of the international boundary line. It is a beautiful wheat, weighs 

 about sixty-five pounds to the measui-ed bushel, and is said to be equal, for flouring 

 purposes, to any wheat grown. It was raised on the farm of William Plaxton, and 

 is the third crop raised from the imported seed. It was sown about 22nd April, and 

 harvested 15th August. It has many of the qualities of Eed Fife, but ripens ten to 

 fifteen days earlier. With each year of cultivation the grain improves, growing 

 thinner in hull and harder.' 



•■' E. Seckel & Co., grain commission merchants, Chicago, write: 'Your favor 

 received, and also sample of wheat, for which accept our thanks. We exhibited same 

 on 'Change and it attracted quite a good deal of attention. We must say that it is 

 the finest sample of spring wheat we have laid our eyes on. One of our millers here 

 would like to know the value of this wheat in your market, and the rate of freight to 

 Chicago, if you can kindly give us the same.' 



" A. C. Buell & Co., a leading Chicago grain firm, write : ' I have your letter 

 accompanied by a sample of splendid wheat. A country that can raise such wheat 

 as that sample will be sought after before many years, as the product of Minnesota 

 and Dakota is fast deteriorating.' 



"Kirkpatrick & Cookson, grain commission merchants, of Montreal, say : ' Your 

 favor duly i-eceived and noted, as well as the sample of " Ladoga " wheat. It is cer- 

 tainly a very handsome sample and has been greatly admii'ed. Is the bulk all as 

 clean as this sample ? At w^hat could a car or two be sold, as an introduction of the 

 variety ? — We might be able to use a little bye-and-bye.' 



" From the publisher of the Miller's jBmew;, Philadelphia : 'With reference to 

 the sample of wheat grown in the Prince Albert district, my people at the office 

 report it to be something entirely outside of their experience, and the}' know pretty 

 well what fine wheat and lai-ge crops of it are. I desire to show this wheat on our 

 Exchange, and I will report to you the opinions of some of its members. It seems 

 to me the wheat matures in a remarkably short time irom the date of sowing. I will 

 be pleased to write you what our dealers have to say about it. Yours very truly, 



" ' H. L. EVERELL.' 



