22 



IMPROVEMENT OF THE WHEAT CROP EN CALIFORNIA. 



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II $ IS 



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MILLING QUALITY. 



The milling quality is perhaps the most important factor to be con- 

 sidered in California. On account of the poor quality of the commonly 

 grown varieties the California millers are unable to make good flour 

 from these wheats when using them alone. Better milling wheat is 



imported from Kan- 

 sas and other States 

 of the Middle West to 

 blend with California 

 wheat in the produc- 

 tion of flour. From 

 one-third to one-half 

 of the blended wheat 

 is made up of the 

 Turkey variety. It 

 is desired to make 

 unnecessary this im- 

 portation by the pro- 

 duction in California 

 of varieties equally as 

 good. The flour val- 

 ue of wheat is judged 

 by both the quantity 

 and the quality of the 

 product. In order to 

 produce wheat of su- 

 perior milling quality 

 it is essential that 

 varieties be grown 

 which will give more 

 and better protein to 

 the acre. The qual- 

 ity of the protein de- 

 pends on the quality 

 of the gluten. 



OTHER REQUISITES. 



Fig. 7.— Representative plants of sixadditional varieties of wheat from Tlip ibilitv of a 



uniform plats planted November 21, 1908, at Modesto, Cal., showing . / 



their comparative development on May 1,1909: 1437, Crimean; 2984, Variety to yield Well 



Saumur de Mars; 2511-2, Abyssinian; 3019, Australian; 1697, Early under proper Clivi- 



Baart; 2921, Bolo Blanco; 2398, Galgalos. \ K 



ronment, the posses- 

 sion of a stiff or a weak straw, and the presence or absence of beards 

 are all factors that need no further explanation, but must all be con- 

 sidered in the selection of a variety. Rust resistance is an important 

 factor, especially in the coastal sections of California. Beardless 

 varieties are often desired by the grower, as he may wish, on account of 



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