The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1891-10-02
GRADING D0WN WHEAT.

GRADING DOWN WHEAT.
Chief Inspector Claussn Addresses =
Letter to the Grain Grower
The following Circular from Chief
Inspector Clausen appeared in the
daily papers last week. It is not a
"hold your wheat" circular, but as
it contains information of much
value to farmers, we republish it
entire:
ST. PAUL, Sept. 23d, 1891.
TO THE NORTHWESTERN GRAIN GROW
ERs AND SHIPPERS
Notwithstanding the fact that the
people of the Northwest have this
year been blessed with by far the
most bountiful crop of wheat which
has every been produced in it's his
tory. and although in character
and quality this grain, generally
speaking, is Of q high standard,
there are localities in Northern
Minnesota and Dakota where it SUI
fered more or less injury from frost
and smut. The amount of late sown
wheat which was caught by the
early frosts is somewhat larger than
has been generally estimated, and
the proportion of smutty wheat ar
irving at the terminal points is also
in excess of what has been antici-
pated. It would be a very unreason-
able expectation that the vast area
of land which was seeded to wheat
this year in the three states, COM
prising eight and quarter millions
Of acres should produce a crop alb
solutely free from blemishes, and the
purpose OF this communication is
not so much to dwell upon this self
evident proposition, as to offer a
few suggestions to farmers and ship
pers as to the best, and most pro-
fitable method OF handling and dis
posing of this damaged grain. Up
on those who have good. sound
wheat as we'll as frosted wheat, l
cannot too strongly urge the i'm
pOrtance 0fmaintaining a complete
separation, as wheat containing a
perceptible quantity OF frosted wheat
connot go into a high grade under
the rules OF inspection. Again, where
there is any marked difference in the
frosted grain in the degree of dam
age done, there should be two or
three separations made in order to
preserve the better classes intact.
Some of the frosted grain can be
milled into fairly good -four, while
the very poorest of it is absolutely
unfit for flour-making purposes,
therefore it is obvious, that in order
to secure the best results, it is of
paramount Importance that there
should be careful separation between
the poorer and better qualities.
In regard to snlutty wheat, the
unexpected prevalence of this evil in
so many localities and over such a
wide area this season, makes it one
OF the most serious and perplexing
questions that the inspection de-
partment is called upon to contend
with. The. more handling that
smutty wheat is subjected to, the
more deteriorated in quality and
consequently in value, does it be-
come. This fact being thoroughly
realized, everywhere large discounts
are always made by grain buyers to
protect themselves against the in
evitable loss that follows the hand
ling OF this class of grain. A large
proportion of this grain can be
fitted for high grade, if it is
cleaned by the farmer and country
shipper before being sent to the
terminal point, and before the smut
balls become dry and brittle.
Every farmer who can possibly do
so, should possess himself of fan
ming mill and carefully clean his
smutty wheat before delivering it at
the local elevators, the profits &C
cruing from one ear load handled
in this way, would purchase three
or four tanning mills. Country
elevator agents should keep the
smutty wheat which they receive.
separated from the better qualities,
and whenever cleaning facilities are
available, should carefully clean it
before shipment. From one to
three grades can be saved if this
course is pursued. The inevitable
effect OF handling smutty wheat in
the large warehouses at the terminal
points where it falls into bins of
great depth, is to break the brittle.
fragile shells which enclose the smut
spores, and scatter their contents
over the grain, thus discoloring and