Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-29
GRIT AND GRAVEL m WHEAT.

About year ago we frst called the atten-
ton of farmers 70 the existence Of adobe soil
and gravel in the wheat from many sections
of this State. Niillers complain bitterly of
this evil, and they have right to do SO.
Though all good mills are provided with clean
ing apparatus by which Jumps of gravel
larger than plump kernels of wheat can
be separated from the grain and prevented
from going into the hopper and between the
stones, still gravel and parcels of earth less
than this in size cannot be separated, and if
in the wheat, must pass between The stones
and into the -four in the form of fine grit
While everybody would object TO eating this
kind of food, and physicians would agree as
to its deletsrious effects upon the digestive
organs and upon the health of individuals
eating it still, if once in Che thrashed wheat,
it will necessarily get into the -four, be baked
in the bread and go into somebody's
stomach, and do its natural work.
As we are not, however, writing an article
for Halls Journal Of Heath, or to be submit
ted TO the consideration of the State Board
that is especially charged with looking after
the health of the people generally, we leave
this branch of the subject to those better able
to handle it, and turn our attention to the
consideration of matters more Immediately
concerning the producers of wheat in this
State. 1t is true that wheat here is sold by
the pound, and that the more tons man sells
at one and half cents pound the more
money he will receive from the purchaser. 1t
Is also true that the miller who buys ton Of
from a farmer once will not be very likely to
seek repetition of the operation. The loss
of weight in separating the gravel from the
wheat before grinding constitutes but slight
per cent. of the loss sustained by the miller
who buys and grinds wheat with soil and
gravel in it. The expense of keeping mill
stones in repair is quite an item
In the general expense of the milling
business, even when none but clean
grain is operated upon, but when pieces
OF granite, quartz and other varieties Of
hard rocks are passed through the mills with
the grain the damage becomes matter Of
serious consideration and materially reduces
the profits Of the milling business. The
millers of this State have learned by expert
ence the necessity of looking closely to each
lot of wheat offered with especial reference to
this particular, and have generally determined
60 make the presence of gravel the grounds of
20 a. loA M
tention to this fact year ago, and we stated
then that although no notice had been taken of
this damaging material in wheat by buyers
for export, yet that it was but matter of
time when English millers would discover the
trouble and trace it to our doors, and that
thereafter California wheat would be looked
upon in the only outside market we have
with disfavor That time has already come.
The action of the San Francisco Produce
Exchange upon this subj ect is buta reflection
of the opinions and determinations of
those for whom the members do
business in the wheat line. This commercial
organization has resolved TO make the pre-
sence of gravel in wheat cause for rejecting
this effect. Under these circumstances there
will be found no market for wheat contain
ing grit and gravel, and it becomes neces-
sity that farmers should see to it that their
svkaat is kept absolutely free from these adj
mixtures. The carelessness in handling the
machinery with which the grain is gathered
and thrashed must no longer be allowed If
the careless use Of the horse fork, with which
the grain is gathered up from the stack and
brought forwa ard to the machine, Is chargeable
with the presence of the gravel and grit in
the wheat, then let this instrument be put
into more careful hands. We were disposed
to believe that most Of the gravel found in lots
of grain was gathered up while thrashing the
bottoms of stacks, but the fact. as stated by
Iuillers, that gravel Is frequently found per-
vadins ar entire crop Of farm disproves
this Theory and proves q general cause. We
know that some managers Of graiu-forks
make practice Of setting the fork for each
forkful Of headed grain at the base of the
pile, and thus rake the ground each time e
load is taken Go the machine. This practice
would account for the gravel in wheat and for
Its almost uniform distribution through each
crop so hsudled. Whatever may have been
the mode by which the evil has been brought
about, it certainly can and should be rene
diel in the future, or loss will ensue to the