The San Francisco call., 1904-07-13
WHEAT LACKS
ENOUGH GLUTEN
Board of Trade Undertakes
to Bring About Improve
ment of California Product
APPOINTS A COMMITTEE
Millers Now Import Kansas
and Dakota Grain to Raise
Grade of Local Flour

A preamble and resolutions were
adopted yesterday on motion of Man
ager Arthur r. Briggs, at a meeting of
the California State Board of Trade,
for the appointment Of a committee of
FIVE to confer with the manufacturers
Of -four and With the farmers Of this
State and with the Agricultural Coli
lege of the University Of California
The duty Of the committee will be to
investigate the growing and marketing
Of wheat in California
The action was the outgrowth OF an
inquiry conducted yesterday by the
State Board Of Trade into an emer-
gency that has arisen. The principal
speaker was Horace Davis, who, from
the standpoint Of a practical milling
man, gave much valuable information.
Davis said positively that it is now
necessary to import wheat from South
Dakota and from Kansas into Califor-
MIA in large quantities TO supply the
necessary blend that is required to give
the California milled -four sufficient
gluten. The California wheat, so said
Mr.. Davis, now runs too much 10
starch and too little TO gluten for
-four making Starch makes fat, glu-
ten makes muscle. Greater strength
is needed in California wheat.
Others Interestingly discussed the
wheat situation, among them w. H.
Mills. T. c. Friedlander, Craigie Sharp,
President n. P. Chipman and United
States Senator Perkins. 1t was agreed
that something ought to be done for
the good of the State. Formerly Cali
fornia wheat was adequate to all de-
mands upon ii, so it was represented.
The farmers have fallen into the way
Of raising club wheat, which has its
advantages. but the grain is devoid of
the necessary percentage of gluten.
Mr.. Mills suggested that il might be
possible to hybridize wheat. General
Chipman read a letter from Professor
Shaw of the University of California.
1t appeared that the Importance of hav-
ing the proper kind of wheat raised
was understood by practical men in
and out Of the University of California.
/ President Chipman appointed as COM
mittee to take up the entire matter and
report: Horace Davis. Professor Shaw
4 Friedlander and Arthur R. Briggs.
/ General Chapman was also made the
chairman Of the committee by the
/ terms of the resolution, which is as
4 follows:
whereas. II has come to the knowledge OF
the California State Board OF Trade that GER
tain descriptions Of wheat grown in this state
are deficient in gluten content. and that some
Of the hournills of the State are now bring
ing wheat from Kansas and Dakota 10 be
mixed with the California product in order to
raise the grade Of -four manufactured here;
whereas. The Oriental market demands a
! strong -four and the -four exported from Cali
hiring higher prices II it contained a larger
/ percentage OF gluten than can now be OBJ
tained from our wheat, and,
/ whereas Il is believed that we are rapidly
! appi osching a period when home consump-
I tion and the demand for hour IN the orient
! will require all Of our wheat, IL is important
! that the quality be brought up TO the highest
] possible standard. both for domestic use and
! to meet the demands OF the foreign trade To
/ the end that California farmers may maintain
! their position in competition with wheat
/ grown in any other state. il is
] Resolved That a committee OF five, of which
! the president Of the board shall be chairman,
! be snrointed to confer with the manufacturers
4 of fonr and with the farmers in this State
! aud with the agricultural college OF the Uni
/ versitv OF California, with directions TO in
growing ard marketing wheat in California,
( and TO report fully the results OF IFS investi-
/ cations.
! Manager Briggs announced that
| George A Dennison, assistant secre-
tary Of the State Board of Trade, will
! leave this city to-day for st. Louis to
assist the California commissioners to
| the St. Louis Exposition.
The subject Of the recommendations
for appointment of jurors to act in the
departments of agriculture, viticul-
ture, horticulture, mining, forestry and
education at the st. Louis Exposition
and to award prizes was discussed. On
motion Of Senator Perkins a committee
was named, consisting of w. H Mills.
| Arthur r. Briggs and General n. p.
Chipman to suggest names for jurors.