Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-14


fruits of the wheat harvests. and Gideon
threshed wheat in the land OF the Midlah-
ties.
Who does not remember the romance
OF that Biblical eat-feld, where BoaZ
directed his young men 70 let handtuS
of the unthreshcd grain lie among the
sheaves. for Ruth, the beautiful cleaner
OF the Moabitcs.
Wheat has another distinction outside
of its great antiquity. Nowhere VIII II
reproduce itself without the help OF man
year after year.
Nor viii money. In 1866 Henry Ill.
King Of England, decrced that wheat
was among the most constant things IN
weight that could be found, and mat
thirtv-two grains of wheat taken from
the middle of the ear should be the stand
ard weight for a silver penny or penny
weight and twenty pennyweiShts 10
make an ounce This was the standard
for 200 years. Wheat grains increased IN
size until tWenty-fOur grains were
pennvweight. and that decree stands Yet.
As we all know, standard weights are
changed from wheat to distilled water
the one thing that is absolutely I'M
changcable. The change I'm the wei4ht or
wheat grains has greatly deteriora'ed IN
four centuries ! saw the statistics OK
tests made from wheat collections III
Washington not long since. Samples OF
wheat were from almost every wheat
growing country in the word. one nun
dred of the largest grains from each
Mace were selected. Not one lot weighed
hundred grains. e,
The best wheat was from India. at N
grains. Australian wheat weighed %
grains: Russian wheat weighed q little
over q grains for one hundred OF tho
wheat. and was the lightest of the lot.
Oe American wheat. the best was from
wheat. grown In Ohio. and was
within a traction OF - grains in weight.
II is pcssble that the size and quality
Of the cereal is running out because or
the careless way in which 1t has pech
selected. Returns :fom experiments az
ready made show that careful selection
of tho best and most perfect seeds are
ou that Is necessary ~ restore the IN
dividual grains to their ancient size.
These fields CT living Grecn'-the
meadows, the upland. grassy pastures
and the sprinsins wheat-haNe tahch g"
deepcr hues from the warm May sun
shine and tepld rains OF this week
Mr.. f. f. Goodloe and wife Of BIG
Stone Gan. who have been visiting Mr.
Goodloc's parents. let here Thursday Tor
JpllSlOi tIiiis
Mr.. Douglas Macsrceor. Of Ch1rlottes-
willie. is a guest at Locust Dale.
Mrs. Maria Hall. of the University or
Virginia. is visiting her sister, Mrs. {. -
Iipscomb. of "Rcdlands."
Mrs. NJ. T. Lewis and son. OF keswick
are guests OF Mrs. T.. l.. Mays, daughter
OF Mrs. Lewis
Rev. II. X Hawthorn IS this week at
the BAPTIST convention. in Louisville. Ky.
There is a mild fight between Candidates
for office Of Commssiopcr of Revenue
between Messrs W. II. stevens and W. l..
Hill. with balance probably in favor OF
Stevens.
Mr.. w. L. Pugh is a candidate for Con-
stable Of Rockhsh District
Mr.. Richard Babcr. of near Alton, VINO
has been very ILL., Is better.
Mr.. W. Il. Carlisle. of Chicago who has
leased the Royal Orchard for two years.
with option OF buying. has arrived with
his family. They are son. daughter. wife,
and private secretary.
Mr.. Newton Dickson and wife, OF West
Virginia. are spending the month with
their DAUGHTER Mrs William McCu"
Dr. J. Fulton Williams. of Avon. has re-
turned from Baltimore whore he grad
uated. and will locate in Upper Rockfish.