The San Francisco call., 1904-10-27
FLOUR MILLERS
MAKE RETURNS
To the Merchants Exchange
They Furnish Statistics
Regarding Wheat's Status
EXTENT OF SHORTAGE
First Complete Reports Are
Issued That illustrate
a Very Important Matter

Secretary T. C. Friedlander of the
Merchants Exchange has secured some
very striking figures from all the flour
millers of California, which emphasize
the general statements that have been
published recently in reference to the
shortage in the milling wheat produc-
tion Of this State. According to these
authoritative sources of information
there were produced in California in
the twelve months ending June 30, 1904,
2,1SS,23S barrels of flour. The exports OF
flour from this State during the same
twelve months were 917176 barrels,
while the imports of flour into Califor-
mia amounted to 583, 1877 barrels. As
Stunning that the stocks of flour amount
ed to the same on July l, 1904, and
July l, 1903, the amount of flour actu-
ally consumed in California was 1,S54,-
259 barrels.
The flour miIers' returns also show
that in the designated twelve months
they ground 1920 tons of wheat grown
outside of California, which was about
one-fourth of the total amount ground
by them. AS a rule the wheat import
ed into the State brought higher price
than milling wheat produced at home
The importation was made necessary
to enable the mills to obtain a wheat
stance to produce, when mixed with
native grown wheat, flour up to the
marketable standard. The importation
Of foreign wheats into California has
increased during the last few years,
and the amount now imported is great
er than ever before.
Mr. Friedlander reports other facts
of general interest relative to wheat as
follows:
oil IQd m
necessity of improvement in the quality or
wheat raised in California, and the figures
show the Importance OF tne suO}eSe @ crnns anu oS
wheat of the last few years have been as
follows: 1901, $50 600 tons; 1902. go; 600 tons;
1908. 100000 tons and 1904. estimated at 4Oo-
600 tons Not only has acreage been decreased,
but the yield OF wheat per acre has been below
the average partly owing to climatic reasons.
Due Importance must also be given to the fact
that our wheat lands have been continuously
cropped for long number OF years without
any attempt at rotation of crops and without
any attempt to renew the soil by adding the
necessary ingredients that have been gradually
exhausted.
The wheat farmer has done his best by
giving his land rest by the system of sum
mer following and the seeding OF crops put
once in two years; but this does not seem TO
be sufficient In other States the question OF
the quality Of the wheat produced has re.
eeived earnest attention and large sums or
money have been appropriated by the States
for the purpose Of making such Investigations
will assist In enhancing the quahty ana
absolutely nothing has been done in this line,
and it is beyond question a matter of the most
vital Importance that proper investigation
should be initiated and experiments conducted.
This would mean an expenditure by the
State of not to exceed $4,000 per annum and
the results that sure to be returned would
be OF the utmost value to the farmer, the land
owner and miller and the welfare Of the State
generally Investigations would be conducted
along two lines-first the breeding pro-
curing of species of wheat that would retain
its glutenous qualities. and secondly. the
proper means of economically and practically
being out.
The wheat crop OF California in future will
be raised much smaller units than has
hitherto been the case. Only in exceptional
cases has wheat been raised by means Of irri-
cation, but with the land being gradually cut
into small farms and water being applied
throughout the length and breadth of the State
much of the future crop of wheat of California
will be assisted in Its growth by applying
water by artificial means. To do this 1T is
necessary that the growing plant itself should
be saturated. 1t has been shown beyond a
doubt that IL would be most advantageous 10
give the land a thorough soaking before seed
ing and thereby assure sufficient supply of
moisture underneath for the of the plant
during its growing season. Working the land
in smaller units, the matter of fertilization
be handled. which is practically impossible
with fields of the present size. Under these
conditions the yield per will be doubled.
The ordinary accepted ratio Of consumption
in the United States is one barrel of -four per
capita. 1t is uncertain to whether this
ratio will hold good in California but in view
of its cosmopolitan population and in view Of
the fact that comparatively small amount of
corn flour is used IT is probable that the n
sumption per capita in this State is the eQuiva-
lent of 2S5 pounds of wheat. Taking this ratio
of consumption, the population of the State of
California is at present 1,756 800 persons. The
census Of 1900 gives the population of Cali
being l. 4S5 O63