The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-22
OUR WHEAT FOR ENGLAND.
We JUST FEED HER FOR MANY
MONTHS TO COME.
And Ercn though tho Lancet " Thinks British
wheat Would Tie Moro wholesome for the
British tomach-RussInn Progress In Asin
rLa nuIn Ian In arcncn hr tho NNnr-

~ btN u Ars n A"oh VI - ~ ~ " l
feeding England during tho next twelve months
will fall, as Is already widely known. chiefly
upon America. The Russian wheat crop is a
failure, and export OF grain has been forbidden
by the Gear. Tho market for the enormous
superfuous yield of American cereals is thus
provided by one OF natures fortunate compen
sations, and all concerned are happy, or should
he. II is curious that just at this moment q
now warning or argument against the use Of
forcign.grown food should be put forward by
that acknowledged authority upon all questions
affecting the physical well-being Of man, the
Lancet. Its assertion amounts to this. that tho
healthiest food for any people is the product OF
It's local or native soil.
The average ignorant layman is no doubt OF
the impression that wheat Is wheat or beef Is
beef the world over. Far from 1t, says a CORE
spondent OF the Lancet. whose views are in
dorsed by the editor Of the great organ OF medi-
cal science in an interesting article. II is, of
course, we'll understood that climatic conditions
have a great deal to do with the suitability of
food. The appetite for fat in tho Arctic and for
fruit in the tropics affords tho commonest ex-
ample.
THE same principle" the editor of tho Lancet
points out, "is Illustrated even in the compare.
lively narrow range OF climatic conditions in
this country. Who has the same inclination to
eat a large, undcrdone. juicy steak in the broiling
days Of our short summer as in winter! We
rather have recourse to salads, fruits. vcgc.
tables. and II to meat at all. II is in sparing guam.
tity and generally cold. But as an agricultural
correspondent has most ably and pcrtinently
pointed out to US in a recent very interesting
communication the subject may be pushed a step
further. and considered from a point Of view
which in its general bearings on the question
Of food supply is Of unquestionable i'm
~portauce. As he has observed, the same
plant varies in Its feeding properties when
grown at a different altitude. or on
a particular soil, or in a different climate. In
other words, the n%utritive value of a plant or its
fruit, be ii seed. fruit, or leaf. is influenced by
coil and climate. Heritage composed Of grasses
and clovers-i. G., p~asture-has a marked in
f,uence upon the health. development, and early
maturity of sheep and cattle according to
geographical position and geological character
OF the soil. Thus .storeland and feeding land
are terms used to express the relative character
of the soil, and, as our correspondent twho is q
farmerl points out, these varying condi.
tons have a well-known influence in alter.
ing or modifying the type and char
acter Of breed or pedigree. Is it a design in
nature, he asks, that plants growing in
any particular country shall be more suitable
food for animals in that particular country than
foreign food or that grown in n different coun-
try As an illustration. linseed or faxseed pro-
duced in one country is full of oil. and in an
other the proportion OF oil is distinctly less; a
sample OF seed in one country, again. is rich in
niucus, while in another it contains very little
mucilage. the difference in this respect in Rus
sian. Indian, and English seeds being consid-
cradle. Again. he asks. does Assam tea afford .
more healthful beverage to the Chinaman than
Indian tea : yet the character of the two decoc-
tons made from these respective teas is quite
different.
To come nearer home. and to touch upon the
economic side Of the question as closely affect
ing our own agricultural interests, is English
wheat made into bread a better food for the peo-
pie in this country than bread made from for
eign -four The baker selects foreign -four be-
cause the resulting loaf is lighter. and the -four
will take up more water, and a sack will yield a
greater number ofloaves than an English sack.
There could hardly be opened up for discussion
amoFc interesting phase OF the subject. and our
correspondent has written very pertinently
upon a very important question. 1t Is Just pos
sible, on studying and rejecting upon the issues
re has raised. that another rational and power.
Ia! argument in favor OF the consumption OF
homegrown food may be found"
The LGHcet's argument may be rational and
powerful. but do not believe it will diminish the
sac OF American wheat in England by a single
lushel during the coming autumn and winter.
The point incidentally brought out that foreign
;'our will yield more bread. weight for weight,
'n"" rhsiish nouriS quito potent enough TO de-
noe inc question IN ever! bakery in England.
H'ho A~d"ce' would devote itSe!i TO an agitation
. inc question no" 10 make bread with any
NouT, II might accomplish a great and glorious
te'olHi' III Inns nAher'r'ateh country. t0more
uMeour'sihs' uh"ppetizihg object can be pro-
uu.eu as proouct OF the culinary art than the
EHsn' nousehola ioai. as IL Is called have
".' = uisco'er IL ana YET al England, rich
!" pooi uiA suos'sts' as lar as the stan OF life
s.o"eetneu' upon inns hihty' pumpkln.shaped,
1 q U I taste'eSs hour ana water.
"HItn u oaAer ieaveS AT the door OF every
~Na.oh u inc 'aieF Al the door OF every
10 . oei each morning
= oreaa making II II ever existed In
n"s,anu' 10 WS~ itis SAID that In a rev local..
~ IN nuraiAhaS ana horth Oh England bread
only by hearsay. In London and other ,owns