THE JOURNAL 



OF THE 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Vol. XI. No. 6. 



SEPTEMBER, 1904. [NEW SERIES,] 



THE QUESTION OF QUALITY IN WHEAT. 



In all agricultural produce the question of "quality" is of 

 the greatest importance, determining as it often does whether a 

 given crop can be grown at a profit or not. This is particularly 

 the case with the British farmer, who, with his high fixed 

 charges for rent and kindred services and his intensive methods 

 of cultivation, is more dependent upon a large monetary return 

 per acre than is any other farmer in the world. What precisely 

 constitutes "quality" in any agricultural product is always 

 a very subtle question, and the conditions under which it is 

 attained are also difficult to follow ; particular varieties and 

 methods of cultivation are more successful than others, but,, 

 generally speaking, quality is more dependent on soils and 

 seasons than on. the work of the cultivator. Very often, again, 

 high quality is associated with a comparatively poor yield, 

 because quality is generally dependent upon perfect maturity, 

 and the manuring given to produce a big crop may induce too 

 prolonged growth. In "the case of wheat the current market 

 prices show that certain very marked differences of quality must 

 exist. During the season of 1903-4, for example, No. 1 Hard 

 Manitoba has been selling at about 35s. per quarter, Hard Winter 

 Kansas anc{ Russian wheats at about 33s., while the best English 

 wheat was not fetching more than 28s. or 29s. 



Though there are many elements determining the price of 

 wheat — dryness, cleanliness, condition, &c. — the main factor 

 causing English wheat to occupy such a low position in the 

 scale is its comparative lack of what the baker calls "strength,'' 

 i.e., the capacity to make a large loaf. The photograph of loaves 



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