The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-08-31

Prof. kcd-ie .9Raiyses the Flour The
Conclusions He .9rrices dt-.5ctfOn
Of .ndcOBib County Farmers.
From the Lansing Republican.

From the Lansing Republican.
A good deal of interest has been awak'
ened among our farmers on the subject
of Clawson wheat, especially since the
late meeting of the Michigan State Mil
lers' Association in Detroit. At this
meeting a resolution was adopted that
the Clawson wheat was the poorest
wheat for the manufacture of flour now
raised in Michigan. The analysis Of
six varieties of wheat was introduced as
demonstrating the in.eriority of the
Ciawson.
There is one Serious objection to ac-
cepting the conclusions which the mil.
lers' association drew from the nalysis
presented at their meeting, and that is
that it is an analysis of wheat, and not
of the portion used for human food, viz,
the -four. The analysis of whole wheat
will give one result, and the analysis of
-four from the same wheat will give a
different result. The bran has very
different composition from -four. 1t is
much richer in nitrogen than -four of
the same grain. Prof. Johnstone gives
the following as the average composition
of wheat, bran and -four, as regards
gluten (albuminoids);
Whole bran. n................ IA to 1S per cent.
Fine four. lO per cent.
If a grain has thick skin, it may
give large yield of nitrogen for the
whole grain, and yet the -four may be
no richer in gluten than that from an.
other variety which, with thinner skin,
may yield less per centage of nitrogen
when the whole grain is analyzed. The
analysis of whole wheat does not afford
fair test of ito value for food, unless it
be for the manufacture of unbolted or
Graham -four. Even then the results
are undecisive because of the indigesti-
BILE quality of bran. The organic mat
ter Of hair, bones, horn, ETC., is richer
in nitrogen than meat, but we do not
on that account insist on using them as
food. Many persons object to hair in
their food, Notwithstanding it is l'ich in
nitrogen.
The real question for the millers to
decide, and the only one in which the
consumer is interested, is the compost
tion of the -four Of these several kinds of
wheat. We have commenced an inves
tigation into this subject, and hope to
make a thorough and exhaustive investi-
cation before long. The suggestion of
the Michigan Farmer that the State
Board of Agriculture should take hold
of this matter, and have the whole sub
ject examined by reliable parties,
representing the miller and the baker,
assisted by chemical analysis of the -four
derived from all kinds of wheat raised
in this and the neighboring States, l re.
gard as an excellent suggestion, and one
which / hope to see carried out in the
near future. Such an investigation will
afford reliable data for determining the
value of different varieties of wheat, and
not leave the farmer exposed to caprici.
Gus and disastrous fluctuations in the
price of our great staple production.
| have not been able to procure many
specimens of -four derived from known
kinds of wheat, but Mr. Thoman, of
Lansing, has kindly furnished me with
-four from three varieties of wheat, viz {:
Delhi. Treadwell, and Clawson. These
specimens in -four have been analyzed
by my assistant in chemistry, and give
the following results so far as moisture,
albuminoids and ash are concerned {; the
balance of the percentage will represent
starch, sugar, gum, fats, etc.
Starcn