Seed Wheat. 



3-00 



Poor Quality of Crops from Small and Shrivelled Seed. 



Bearing these facts in mind, we have now to consider a question of some importance, 

 and that is the relative value of the grain crops from large and small grains, irrespective 

 of the weights or sizes of the crops. Are the crops obtained from small seeds as good in 

 quality as those from large seeds ? It appears that this question is one that has been 

 seldom thought of, and it is one that has not been satisfactorily tested, so far as I am aware. 

 It will be seen from the tests conducted with reference to the absolute value of large 

 and small grains from the same ear of wheat that there is some ground for considering the 

 two of about equal fodder value. This is a different matter 

 from the comparison of large and small grains from different 

 plants, and it differs still more widely from the comparison 

 of large and small grains that are from 

 different plants which are different in size 

 and in the size of their grains, because of their 

 having sprung from large and small seed 

 respectively. It may not be wholly profitless, 

 however, to discuss this question even on this 

 somewhat remoteexperimental basis, especially 

 as it will be seen that the structure of the 

 grains of small size, as connected with their 

 value as fodder, is such in the comparison 



Fig. 31. Quality of the grain raised 

 from large seed ; companion to Fig. 

 32. To show the superior quality of 

 the crop derived from large seed. 

 Not only is the yield from the large 

 seed greater, it is also of better quality. 

 The crop from the large seed contains 

 nearly twice as much of the largest 

 grade, and nearly 20 per cent, more 

 of the next largest grade : while, when 

 we turn to the smallest grade, we find 

 that it contains only half as much tail- 

 ings, and only two-thirds as much of 

 the next smallest grade, and fully 20 

 per cent, less of the second smallest ; 

 or. to put the case in popular language, 

 the larger the seed you sow the larger 

 the seed you will reap, to say nothing 

 of reaping more. This 

 2-25 illustration and its 



companion piece on 

 the opposite page are 

 typical illustrations, 

 and are derived from 

 Hudson's Early Pur- 

 ple Straw, 1896-7. 

 These figures illus- 

 trate only the differ- 

 ence in quality, not 

 the difference in yield. 



cited that it seems reasonable to suppose the same structure would enter into small grains 

 of any sort ; I refer to the thinness of the bran, and the relative proportion of flour, &c. 



If this be so, then the absolute feeding value of crops of grain from large and from 

 small seed would be about equal, weight for weight. 



As to the market value, however, the case stands differently, for if the crop of grain from 

 small seed is smaller in size than from large seeds, its market value will be smaller for two 

 reasons. First, the small size of the grains will lower the market value irrespective of the 

 use to which it is to be put, the buyer (really representing the miller) always preferring 

 the sample that presents the better appearance. Again, though this is admittedly but 

 another phase of the same idea, the miller gives to small grains an inferior milling value, 

 and this leads to a lower price in proportion to the number of small grains in the sample, 

 said small grains putting the miller to the expense of their removal and separate disposal. 



