Further Notes on the Milling Qualities of different varieties of Wheat.

BY F. B. GUTHRIE AND E. H. GURNEY.

THE following notes on thirty-three samples of wheat grown and harvested by Mr. W. Farrer, of Queanbeyan, are in continuation of a similar investigation already conducted by us, the results of which were published in the March number of the Agricultural Gazette for 1895. For an explanation of the figures, and for detailed account of the manner in which the results are obtained, the reader is referred to the article in question, which is obtainable in pamphlet form on application to the Department.

These wheats, like the previous batch, were grown and harvested by Mr. Farrer from pure seed. They were harvested late in 1894, the previous batch representing the harvest of 1893. One peculiarity was at once apparent, namely, that the gluten-content was throughout much lower than with the older batch. Indian A, for example, which was examined in both seasons, showed a gluten-content of 115 last year, whereas the sample under examination only yielded 8:15.

The many gaps in the columns showing the properties of the flour are due to the fact that the flour was devoured by rats before it could be tested.

Glass-stoppered bottles had been relied upon to protect the flour from these animals, but they had actually forced the stoppers out by wedging themselves between the shoulder of the bottle and the stopper.

In no case, unfortunately, was there enough grain to mill a second quantity. On this account, and also because some of the grain had been attacked by weevils, the results are, on the whole, not quite so satisfactory as those obtained last year, though there are many suggestive points brought out in this case also.

The figures obtained from milling grain that had been harvested after heavy rain are instructive when compared with the same grain harvested before rain.

This is especially shown in Nos. 8 and 9 and in Nos. 24 and 25. No. 26 was also cut before the rain, though it is not strictly comparable with 24, having been subjected to different treatment during its growth.

In general it appears that, as we would perhaps expect, wheat cut after heavy rain possesses the milling qualities of a soft wheat. The weight is considerably diminished, and the colour of the flour is not so good. Unfortunately a comparison of the gluten-content and strength was not possible in the case of these wheats.

Fair to mill. 5 breaks, 5 reductions, 3 extra; flour clings to bran;
semolina yellowish and gritty; bran not clean; pollard clean.
Fair to mill. 5 breaks, 5 reductions, 3 extra; flour clings to bran;
semolina slightly pinkish and soft; bran not clean; pollard
fairly clean ().

Fair to mill. 5 breaks, 5 reductions, 3 extra; flour very difficult to separate from bran; fair amount of flour from breaks; semolina soft and white; bran not clean; pollard clean.

46-8 Fair to mill. 5 breaks, 5 reductions, 3 extra; flour clings very persistently to bran; semolina soft and white; bran not clean; pollard clean.

10. Marshall's No. 8..

11. Ward's Prolific
12. Bladette Puylaurens

13. Autumn Saumur

14. Crepi

27. Hornblende

In those cases in which the same variety was compared under these conditions it was found that though the original wheat may have been hard the grain cut after the heavy rain milled like a soft wheat, yielded a soft semolina, and the flour clung to the bran. The weight per bushel is also considerably less in those samples which had been harvested after rain, a fact of great importance.

Of the cross-bred wheats those with the Fife blood show the strongest flour, though not necessarily the highest gluten-contents, a fact which was to be anticipated from the previous results obtained with the Fife wheats.

One of the best, if not the very best, all-round wheat in this series is Blount's Lambrigg, the characteristics of which may be summed up as follows:-Easy to mill, readily yielding a high percentage of flour without detriment to colour, gluten-content, or strength, remarkably high weight per bushel, flour strong, colour good, gluten-content high.

It will be seen that the sample No. 26 was milled to yield over 80 per cent. flour. Though the treatment was not in any sense severe, nevertheless, the colour is undoubtedly slightly affected, having a somewhat yellower tinge than is in favour. A sacrifice of 2 or 3 per cent. of flour would undoubtedly bring the colour up to the highest standard. It is in fact one of the easiest of wheats to manipulate and is in every respect a splendid milling wheat.

The following notes are by Mr. Farrer:-" Nos. 4, 16, 27, and 28, had been exposed to protracted rain before they were harvested and had been spoiled for milling purposes,—that is to say, the quality of the flour had been affected. The same remarks apply to one sample of F1 and Blount's Lambrigg respectively. No. 23 (Clarke's RR) had been grown in a former year (1893) when all wheats were much stronger in gluten than they were in 1894. The best sample of Blount's Lambrigg (No. 26) was taken from plants which had been cut down after they had begun to mount up. The effect of this treatment was expected to be that the grain would be smaller and poorer in gluten. The grain was smaller, but owing to an accident the comparative examination which was to be made with the object of seeing whether the gluten content had been diminished could not be made."

Agricultural Machinery Exhibits at the
World's Fair.

By J. MARTIN.

HAVING given a short history of the development of harvesting machinery (Vol. VI, p. 553) we can better appreciate the exhibits in this section of the Agricultural Annex at the Columbian World's Fair.

The opinions formed of this department varied according to the expectations of the visitor. Those who expected to see a large number of new departures from the present day system of harvesting hay and grain will have been disappointed, as there was no distinctly new type of harvesting machine, the manufacturers being satisfied to claim special merits in changes and improvements of detail.

Visitors from foreign countries were surprised that a much larger space was not devoted to agricultural machinery generally, and those who have a knowledge of the leading manufacturers of the United States will have missed many whose goods have a world wide reputation.

The explanation is that, with every desire to meet the wishes of intending exhibitors, the World's Fair Commissioners found it impossible to increase the area of the building, and many well-known manufacturers being unable to secure a space large enough to enable them to make a representative display of the goods they manufactured, preferred to stay away rather than make a show in the limited space offered.

But the greatest defect, from the foreign visitors' point of view, was the lack in many departments of foreign exhibits which prevented a comparison being made of the manufactures of different countries; for instance, there was not a single exhibit of importance in the department now under notice,-i.e., harvesting machinery-from England, France, or Germany, all, or nearly all, in this section, with the notable exception of Canada, being manufactured in the United States.

This lack of means for comparing the manufactures of the different countries was generally admitted to be the weak point of the Agricultural Department; but the United States and Canadian exhibits that were there are worthy of all praise, and perhaps illustrated as clearly as could be the wonderful energy, perseverance, and skill of the manufacturers in those two

countries.

Some persons found fault with the elaborate finish on a few of the mowers, reapers, and binders, as they were in parts plated with gold and silver, and the woodwork of one binder was adorned with mother-o'-pearl. This extra finish is what is known as an "advertising point," and is put on the machines, so that all persons interested will take special notice of the machine, and not only recollect it, but talk about it, and explain its beautiful finish, &c., thus fulfilling one of the special aims of an exhibitor, i.e., "securing attention and ensuring his exhibit being well talked about."

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