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THE FARMERS HANDBOOK. 



A fairer index as to the general improvement in this respect is afforded 

 by a comparison of the strength and gluten-content of the f.a.q. samples for 

 the past few years. The following table gives the results obtained from the 

 last seventeen harvests: — 



Nature of wheat and flour obtained from the f.a.q. sample in different 



years. 



Effect of Weather at Harvesting on Nature of the Grain. 



A further point that must be taken into consideration, when harvesting, is 

 the effect of weather conditions upon the nature of the grain. 



Rapid ripening of the grain takes place when air and soil are hot and dry 

 and the nights warm, and these conditions increase the gluten in the grain, 

 and, generally speaking, the flour-strength. 



Provided the weather during the previous growth of the wheat has been 

 favourable, hot and dry conditions at the period of harvesting are beneficial. 

 When the opposite conditions prevail at harvest, that is to say, when air 

 and soil are moist and cool, the result is a plump, soft, starchy grain, yielding 

 a less glutinous and generally a weaker flour. When droughty conditions 

 have prevailed during the winter and spring and the ears are not well-filled, 

 rapid ripening results in a parched, shrivelled grain. 



