IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
experiment stations. However, a strenuous campaign of educa- 
tion led by Mr. Carleton was necessary to fix the commercial status 
of durum wheat, after which it soon became a staple American crop. 
In the meantime deficiencies in the supply of European durum 
wheat and the activities of Duluth wheat exporters enabled the 
macaroni manufacturers of the Mediterranean countries to become 
acquainted with American durum wheat. An export outlet was 
obtained in this way, which aided greatly in giving the crop some 
standing among farmers while its commercial status in this country 
was being established. 
Several difficulties were met in the process of establishing the 
growing of durum wheats on a commercial basis in this country. 
Chief of these was the fact that there was no market demand for 
these wheats in America. Macaroni, spaghetti, and other manu- 
factured forms of durum wheat were not generally used, and durum 
flour was unknown. The durum wheats were an unknown quantity 
to the grain trade, the milling industry, and the eaters of bread. 
The kernels were different in size, color, and hardness from those of 
other wheats grown here and so could not be thrown into the estab- 
lished grades or mixed in granaries, cars, or elevators. They were 
so hard that mills could not grind them with the equipment and 
methods then in use, and few millers thought they could afford to 
spend the time and money for necessary experiments. Much oppo- 
sition arose, therefore, and the price of durum wheat was depressed 
below that of common wheat. For the first few years almost no 
market existed. 
Figure 1 shows graphically the comparative market value of No 1 
Durum and No. 1 Northern wheat at Duluth, Minn., in the 15 years 
from 1902 to 1916, inclusive. The value given is the closing price 
on the first business day of each month during that period. 
From this diagram it will be noted that the average spread in 
price in the nine years from 1902 to 1910, inclusive, was about 15 
cents per bushel in favor of common wheat. At the country ele- 
vators the discrimination against durum, especially in small lots, 
frequently was as much as 25 cents per bushel. Under these market 
conditions much durum wheat was fed to stock on the farms where 
it was grown. 
During 1911 the spread in price gradually decreased, and in the last 
five years, 1912 to 1916, inclusive, the average price has been about 
the same. During part of this period the price of durum has been 
appreciably above that of common wheat. 
It must be recalled that the figures for market value at Duluth are 
always more favorable to durum wheat than those from any other 
point. Durum wheat which has arrived at Duluth not only is in 
commercial channels, but often is already en route to an export mar- 
