228 English Wheat and the Development of British Milling. 
This is the strongest wheat on the market, while Russian 
wheats range between 32s. and 35s. 6d ., these being a good 
second for strength. 
These statements are, to my mind, conclusive as to the 
duty of English farmers in their own interests to pay more 
attention to the requirements of the millers. 
Owing to the dilatory methods farmers have been pursuing 
during the past few years, millers have had to cast about for 
an outlet for the extra offal produced. It is a fact that some 
thousands of tons of offal are being exported annually to 
Scandinavian dairy farmers, whose produce from that offal is 
sent back here per return ship to compete with home produce. 
It is estimated that if British and Irish millers will only 
increase their capacity in a steady ratio during the next five 
years, they will make this country self-supporting in the 
matter of flour production ; and it rests with farmers as to 
whether the extra bran, &c., thus produced, shall be utilised 
here or abroad. Farmers in this country do not appear to 
appreciate fully the feeding value of the bye-products of the 
milling industry ; they apparently prefer cheap foreign food 
compounds, cake, &c. Consequently home millers are com- 
pelled to find a market abroad, and Sweden gets the surplus 
at whatever prices may be ruling. These prices may be higher 
owing to the period of the cereal year ; or, when grass is 
abundant, they may be lower than in England. 
Speaking as a practical miller, it is a fact that we want 
about thirty million quarters of wheat yearly from somewhere. 
We get it, of course ; but a much larger percentage ought to be 
grown at home, and at a better profit, if more attention were 
given to what is most needed in the grain. I am not speaking 
now of so-called strong wheats exclusively, because higher 
prices could be had for coioury wheats if these were of a better 
class all round, for there will always be a demand for the best 
at best values. Straw and yield can be more than offset by 
higher quality, as is proved by the testimony of farmers who 
are working on the best lines. 
If more wheat were grown in this country, it would also 
benefit country millers on account of the lessening of the 
railway charges now paid for the carriage on foreign varieties. 
Even the most distant miller uses some percentage of foreign 
wheat, owing to the unsuitable character of that grown at the 
mill door, and to meet the ever increasing competition of the 
mills more favourably situated for grinding all foreign wheat. 
Such mills will not at present buy native wheat because of its 
all round lack of quality. I am firmly of opinion that the 
time is ripe for a great searching of method and practice, with 
a view to helping agriculturists to adapt themselves to the 
