808 DISCUSSION ON WHEAT. 
Dr. Hardy argues that gluten per se has no tenacity, but this is equally 
true of clay—probably the tenacity of clay is the tenacity of water: the 
individual particles are associated with water molecules and these water 
’ molecules serve to cement the particles together—in flour, as in clay, the 
individual particles differ and there are differences between flours as there 
are between clays. At present strong flours are fashionable and are pre- 
ferred, but there is no proof that they are of special value except from the 
point of view of fashion. Strong flours cannot be grown everywhere, and 
tthe question will arise whether, instead of seeking to produce strong flours 
everywhere, it will not be rather a question of so improving the baker’s art 
that he will be able to avail himself more fully than is now the case of the 
‘various qualities of flour that may be produced; it is difficult to imagine 
that the food value of different flours can be very different. 
When the time comes, in Canada and elsewhere, that the soil is less 
‘suitable for wheat cultivation, when the country is more fully developed, 
it will be necessary to introduce a more complicated system of agriculture ; 
wheat will no longer receive almost sole attention, although it should always 
remain the most important crop. The farmer should be prepared and willing 
%o take advantage of scientific knowledge in anticipation of such a change. 
In closing the meeting, the Chairman said that one effect of the discussion 
‘should be to impress on the city of Winnipeg that the problems of agriculture 
‘deserved to be taken seriously in hand. Many who had been in the city during 
‘tthe week had been impressed by the way in which the streets and roads were 
cared for. Winnipeg, he said, taxed itself to grow fine roads; the question 
he desired to raise was: Should it not tax itself to grow fine wheat? He 
thought it was the one place where a tax might be imposed on wheat in order 
to support a real University in which wheat could be studied from every 
possible point of view. He thought no better form of insurance could he 
effected and he ventured to take the opportunity of making the suggestion, 
in all seriousness to the city of Winnipeg. 
