MONTANA-GROWN WHEAT. 



from the 1910 census reports, illustrating the distribution of the 1909 

 wheat crop in Montana. Figure 2 shows the sources of the samples 

 secured for this investigation. 



MARKETING CONDITIONS IN MONTANA. 



The marketing and selling of wheat in Montana are surrounded by 

 many seeming and real abuses. Wheat classification and grading are 

 most confused on account of their variability. Wheat prices are 

 based upon Minneapolis quotations, less the freight, the commission, 

 and the margin that the local grain buyer considers necessary to 

 cover the cost of handling and net himself a profit. 



The fact that at many shipping points the volume of wheat is yet 

 very small adds materially to the unit cost of handling, for the quan- 



FiG. 1. — Outline map of Montana, sliowing the districts where wheat is produced, 

 census.) Each dot represents 50,000 bushels. 



(From the 1910 



tity of grain received does not justify the building of elevators and 

 warehousing facilities, and consequently the wheat must be handled 

 by expensive man-power methods. At other points, where elevators 

 have been built, the volume of grain is not sufficient to invite compe- 

 tition, or even in some cases to pay the expenses of the operation of the 

 warehouse unless the grain is bought on a comparatively high margin. 

 Tlie confusion that exists as to the classification of Montana wheat 

 is largely dependent upon three factors, which may be summarized 

 as follows : 



(1) The fact that wheat of many varieties belonging to five distinct groups is grown 

 within the borders of the State. 



(2) The existence of several poorly defined systems of classification and grading. 



(3) Varied environmental conditions within the State influencing the character of 

 the grain, of which irrigation is probably the most important. 



