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Red Fife
DCHP-2 (Oct 2016)
Spelling variants:Fife, Red Fyfe
n. — Agriculture
a variety of wheat.
Type: 1. Origin — Red Fife is the oldest and possibly the most famous type of wheat grown in Canada. Many articles and chefs have expounded on "its enticing qualities - the chewiness of its crumb, the way it bakes into a deep, golden colour, the flavour of its bran that offers a depth and a nuttiness" (Elton 2010:86). It was first grown in 1842 by the Ontario farmer David Fife, who reportedly received the few grains of wheat from a friend, Will Struthers, in Glasgow, who had received the wheat from Gdansk, Poland (see Canadian Encyclopedia reference and Duncan 2006: 98-99).
From 1860 to 1900, Red Fife set Canadian wheat standards and was grown across the country. In the 1800s, nearly every Canadian wheat farmer was growing Red Fife because the wheat was discovered to be "a species that adapts to its environment, and the wheat tailored itself to the conditions of North America and did well under the pressures of climate and disease" (Elton 2010: 86). It was used to create Marquis wheat, which ripens a week earlier than Red Fife (see the 1936 and 1947 quotations) and is more resistant to pests and diseases.
See also Gage-5, s.v. "Red Fife", which is marked "Cdn.", ITP Nelson, s.v. "Red Fife", which is described as "of Cdn. origin", and OED-3, s.v. "Red Fife", which is described as "popularized in Canada".
From 1860 to 1900, Red Fife set Canadian wheat standards and was grown across the country. In the 1800s, nearly every Canadian wheat farmer was growing Red Fife because the wheat was discovered to be "a species that adapts to its environment, and the wheat tailored itself to the conditions of North America and did well under the pressures of climate and disease" (Elton 2010: 86). It was used to create Marquis wheat, which ripens a week earlier than Red Fife (see the 1936 and 1947 quotations) and is more resistant to pests and diseases.
See also Gage-5, s.v. "Red Fife", which is marked "Cdn.", ITP Nelson, s.v. "Red Fife", which is described as "of Cdn. origin", and OED-3, s.v. "Red Fife", which is described as "popularized in Canada".
See: Marquis wheat
Quotations
1851
In another column will be found an article on the "Fife Wheat" which is held in such high estimation by the farmers of Newcastle and Colborne districts, and in fact by all who have tried it.
1881
Do all you can to get the farmers to grow Fife wheat, and pay the price for it when pure.
1883
Bestir yourselves, farmers, in this matter, try it and be convinced, and by all means give the "red fyfe" the preference.
1907
Mr. Stevens was not enthusiastic over the possible development of winter wheat, however. As far as his experience went, he said winter wheat involved more labor than the spring varieties, and while the yield per acre might be larger in some instances, there was no guarantee that the net return would be as satisfactory, all things being considered. It was possible to raise red Fife wheat there, and no man could desire more.
1936
Dr. Charles E. Saunders, the Dominion cerealist, had been experimenting for several years, trying to produce a new wheat which would ripen earlier than Red Fife. In 1903 his efforts were crowned with success. The new wheat was named "Marquis."
1947
In 1903, Sir Charles was appointed Dominion cerealist and in the same year he isolated the variety of wheat which he named Marquis. It was a result of a number of cross-breedings of wheat developed originally from a cross between Red Fife wheat and an Indian grain called Hard Red Calcutta.
Marquis was an early maturing wheat, ripening a week to 10 days earlier than the Red Fife wheat which was then widely grown in the west. It also had a greater yielding capacity than any previous North American wheat.
1958
From these grains Fife developed the variety known as Fife (later Red Fife), the first Canadian wheat to be resistant to rust.
1965
[Caption] The year is 1905. . . . These casual labourers . . . are part of a vast army recruited back east to help harvest the early-maturing Red Fife wheat, which is changing the face of the prairies.
1976
Why Ukrainian? Because, as Symko explains, it was from his native Ukraine that the parent strains came to produce Red Fife, which the Saunders crossed with Hard Red Calcutta to produce Marquis.
1997
Brought into Manitoba by the Selkirk settlers, the wheat that was by now called Red Fife thrived.
2013
Jane MacDougall is wrong about newer wheat varieties requiring more nitrates than older ones. The newer varieties actually use proportionately less nitrate due to nitrogen use efficiency improvements over the years. Also, red fife (an old variety) required more pesticides, as the newer varieties are more resistant to insects and disease. Plant breeding has gone a long way in developing resistance to harmful fungus that result in toxins in the grain that are known to be carcinogenic.
References
- OED-3
- Gage-5
- ITP Nelson
- Duncan (2006)
- Elton (2010)
- Canadian Encyclopedia • "Red Fife Wheat"
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