The San Francisco call., 1904-08-15
Committee Debate
Covers Wide
Latitude.
PrOfe sors Give
heir Views
Freely.

Great interest IS manifested through
cat California in the discussions and
the prospective action Of the commit
tee appointed by the California State
saoaro Of Trade relative to the improve
ment Of milling wheat, that Il may
meet the requirements Of the -four
makers OF the State. The information
70 be derived from the investigation IS
OF first Importance to the wheat farm
ers OF California, who naturally desire
20 retain for themselves the home mar
ket for milling supplies.
That al the facts may be laid before
the interested parties, who include a
. large share OF the rural population Of
California, a stenOgraphic report OF the
proceedings Of the first conference of
The committee has been provided,
through the courtesy Of the California
o state Board OF Trade. In this report
are supplied many facts that viii at
tract wide attention. Realizing the
great interests involved in this topic,
ne Call this morning gives up room
10 wheat, that the widest possible pub
Lefty may be afforded for the good Of
al california growers and OF all others
a4leo with them
WHAT SHAW REPORTS.
In response 10 a question by Arthur
r.. Briggs, manager Of the California
state Board OF Trade, a member Of the
committee TO inquire about California
wheat, Professor Shaw Of the Univer-
sity Of California made a statement Of
Eis views. Ar. Briggs question was a
leading one and cOmprehended the es-
sentlal points at issue. Professor Shaw
said ia part:
The point IS this; We are importing a good
O. e~~ Of he H1T1r
We might as well produce that wheat here II
Ne can change the characteristics or select
- mat which Is demanded f0r manufacturing
purposes. Without discussing the amount OF
wheat that is produced here We want a suf-
ne,enty glutinous wheat for our requirernents-
1r trieclanoer-can this be provided with
ouL helping The land2
Professor shaw think l. can. In 1902
ta-toEnia grew 2l52bls acres of wheat.
Nirn an average OF 16-9 bushels 10 the
5cre. Tho -four produced was COS. 7o2
sterre-s, ct the value OF s. eo5, ,2S0. Not
outstanding the state produced a large
srno-nt cf wheat. yet it is found necessary by
su-ilers 10 import from other States large guam
rities of wheat 10 be blended with the home
grown product in order 10 strengthen the -four
on the side ~ gluten the Paclhc Coast wheat
Eslerally being o. low gluten content
In 1854 clifford Richardson called attention
70 this Various mention of the same facts
% u.llicatiohs with reference to CaIifo-nia
r.leats and in some unpublished investiga-
f0-s I have shown the same with reference 10
kreEQn Unlats. The Wheats OF the Eastern
states contain about 1916 per cent OF a bu-
racine states f-A- Der cent
D--ins several years past. IL is claimed by
-rllers there has gradually been going on q
ce-ericra-ion of The grain in this respect 50
t1a- u is becoming necessary 10 import larger
alc larger quantities % wheat TO meet their
needs tlr strongthenIug their -four Further
g. els matter OF common observation that
rrsre IS gradual decrease in the average
o. el1. cue probably iu part 70 certain Ge-
Eeneracs re- seed but more especially 10 con-
r-.-l rr.lE EuGcr the system Of onen
cl-ture, which seems 10 be demanded in this
climate
There would appear. then. two very desira-
&c things 10 be accomplished with reference
to tLe wheat crop of California, viz: the de-
're.0 0p1lelt of type of wheat which carries
7Er1V-r, and. second, the securing OF larger
production per acre. either through the intro
-c-1-lcl % e. new seed the development Of
yeE upe or through a modified system OF
C----re.
That the composition OF wheat can be 10
some extent changed seems reasonably prcb-
-al-e -Eou changes which have been accom-
Etslcl ll some other plants notably the sugar
and com The method OF procedure in
efectlnE these changes has long been recog-
+el ly cattle breeders. viz. by selecting the
best types and breeding excessively and under
me best conditions from that stock retaining
tr6n each generation only the highest types
thar the sugar beet has developed from a plant
carr5 inE less than per cent sugar 70 one
o averaging near l6 Ter cent and. in our own
c.imatg often reaching as high al 20 per cent
= small portion Of the best is analyzed and Il
o. is found 20 be sufficiently rich in sugar IL
ts chen set out as mother OF seed beet From
rhe seed produced beets are then grown, and
.sr-0-hcr selection OF seed beets is made on the
basis n their sugar content and shape. Special
qualities have also been bred into fruits.