THE AGRICULTURAL FUTURE OF THE REGION. 



33 



Durum, or macaroni, wheat is giving better yields than the com- 

 mon spring varieties in nearly all sections north of the Kansas- 

 Nebraska line, but south of this line it has not been so satisfactory. 

 The yields of durum wheat commonly approach those of winter 

 wheat when given similar advantages of cultivation. Durum wheat, 

 however, is at a great disadvantage, because it is commonly dis- 

 criminated against on the market to the extent of 5 to 20 cents a 

 bushel. The lower price frequently offsets the higher yield and makes 

 the crop no more profitable than other spring varieties. Experi- 

 ments at North Platte, Nebr., indicate that durum wheat will pro- 

 duce more feed to the acre than either oats or emmer. There would 

 seem, then, no good reason why it should not be grown in preference 

 to either of these crops unless the straw of oats and emmer is enough 

 better feed than the wheat straw to overcome the difference in favor 

 of the wheat. 



Early varieties of oats are much more certain than late varieties 

 in all the southern part of the area under discussion, and are at least 

 as productive in the northern portion. The late varieties, however, 

 succeed much better north of the South Platte River than they do 

 farther south. 



Barley is a valuable feed crop throughout the region, but in most 

 places is not so popular as other grains. It has generally been more 

 satisfactory in the northern than in the southern sections. Califor- 

 nia feed barley appears to be one of the best varieties for feed and 

 the common six-rowed the best for market. 



Emmer, commonly called spelt, is quite generally grown as a 

 substitute for oats. While this is one of the most drought resistant 

 of our spring grains it does not appear to be able to produce any 

 more, if as much, feed to the acre than oats, barley, or durum wheat. 



South of the Rock Island Railroad milo is one of the surest and 

 most productive grain crops, and at the same time it makes consid- 

 erable fodder, though for fodder it is inferior to sorghum and kafir. 

 Kafir is also grown in the same territory, but it requires a longer 

 season and produces less grain to the acre than milo, though it is a 

 much better fodder plant. 



Sorghum stands without a rival as the most important fodder 

 crop of the semiarid region as far north as the South Platte River, 

 and may be used to advantage throughout the limits of the territory 

 under discussion in these pages. 



Millets are of more or less importance throughout the region, but 

 are much less productive and less drought resistant than the sor- 

 ghums. They have the advantage, however, of being able to mature 

 in much less time. 



In a large portion of the region, especially that receiving the heavi- 

 est rainfall, alfalfa can be produced with more or less success, but 



215 



