The San Francisco call., 1904-07-18
Pledging Ready Coin
for Experiments
in Gluten.
Reach Decision That
Seed Grain Is
Required.

The California State Board Of Trade
has been informed by Horace Davis
thai The -four millers Of California have
agreed TO donate $500 to enable Pro-
fessor Shaw Of the University Of Cal
ifornia 10 ascertain by experiment
whether California wheat can not be
made TO possess a greater percentage
Of gluten by the process of selection.
The State Board OF Trade has decided
10 exDend certain sums Of money TO
import seed wheat from countries
where the grain has much gluten, the
purpose being TO distribute the seed
among farmers TO see what results can
be achieved. The experiments in Sc
lection 10 be carried on by the Univer-
sity OF California VIII take several
years Of work. In the meantime i'm
mediate good results may be brought
about by the use OF fresh seed. These
are the new facts in a matter Of great
Importance TO California. involving the
future Of wheat farming in this State
TO a large extent.
The State Board Of Trade has de-
voted much time recently 10 looking
into the statements Of California -four
millers that they are compelled to i'm
port large quantities Of wheat from
Kansas and South Dakota TO blend
with California wheat 10 make strong
flour, such as is demanded by large
trade. As has already been reported
ia The Call. a conference took place
between the State Board of Trade and
-four millers on this subject last week.
The appointment Of committee of
practical men was authorized TO in
Vestigate. Pending this investigation
the committee. which is headed by
General y p. Chipman, has met Wide
spread interest VIII attach TO all the
subsequent proceedings. Horace
Davis tells the State Board of Trade
that both the quantity and quality Of
wheat produced in California is, from
the miller's point Of view, falling of.
There are many problems Of engrOssing
interest 10 be considered Some of
these were presented at the recent con-
ference brought about by the State
Board Of Trade. The Importance Of
the matter warrants the publication,
al length. Of many Of the statements
that were made by Horace Davis.
They are Of live concern TO all farmers
in California who grow wheat for the
use Of the -four millers. Not less will
they attract the attention Of all per-
sons who are trying TO promote the
prosperity Of this State.
MIILERs OFFER MONEY.
Concerning the offer of the millers
10 appropriate $500, Horace Davis says:
Professor Shaw, from the University
Of California, came 10 see me about this
gluten question. He said that the Uni
versity people wanted TO experiment
upon improving the wheat by selection.
They were satisfied that TO improve the
wheat by importation Of the seed would
not entirely solve the problem. They
were of opinion that the wheat would
90 back to too large a percentage of
starch and have too small a percentage
Of gluten to make strong -four that is
demanded. But they believe that it
viii be possible. by the careful selec-
tion Of wheats. to find a strong wheat
that VIII hold on in this State and will
continue TO reproduce itself strongly.
For instance. Burbank produces his
fruits by selection. Professor Shaw
said that he wanted a little money TO
make the experiment in selection and
that If he could get 5000 the first year
and $3.50 for the next four years, he
could carry on his experiments
communicated with General Chapman.
We viii raise the $500 among the
trade"
A communication has been received
from Professor Shaw by General Chip
man ia which the following statements
are made: BY a system Of rational
selection and breeding il has been pos
sible 10 increase the sugar in the beet
from five per cent TO an average Of
about sixteen per cent BY similar
methods il has been possible to increase
both the oil and albumenOir percent
age Of corn. as demonstrated in the
experiments at the Illinois Experiment
Station. IN view OF these accomplish