Michigan Wheat

To the Farmers of Michigan : The relative value of different vario tiea of wheat grown in our State is a matter of public importunen, and is at tracting niarked atteution at the pres ent time. As the time for seediug ap proaches and the farmer is about to settle the quotition what kind of whea he shall aow for next year's erop, the relative value of different varieties be oomes a matter of pressing importance If there ia a niarked difforenoe in th productiveness of different varietieg o wheat, and in their relative immunit; trom the attacks of destructivo inseets it becomes a matter of great concern which variety to sow. The Secretary of State shows tha 1,228,000 aores of wheat were on th ground in the State last May - a differ ence of five bushels to the acre in con sequence of raising one variety rathe than of another would make a tota difference of more than 6,000,000, whioh at present priors would amount to mor than $8,000,000- a sum sufficieut to make the difference between " har( times" and " good times " to the far mers of our State. On the other hand, if there is a niarked difference in the food value o different varietiea of wheat, this be comes a matter of just concern to the consumer. The statement that any va riety of wheat extensively cultivatec is inferior in food value seriously affeot the farmer, because it depresses price at home and seriously injures onr mar ket abroad. If only 10,000,000 of ou estimated 21,000,000 bushels producec in this State this year are sold, and the priceB are depresaed 10 cents a bushel the loss to the farmers of Michigan i $1,000,000. Justice, alike to the farmer and consumer, demands that tho ques tion be settled in a way that shall leave no doubt or obscurity on so importan a subject. It should be sottled in such a way that all the parties in teres tec should be properly represented ; the farmer, tlfe miller, the baker, and the consumer, all have a voice in settling the question. The State Board of Agriculture have been urged by the farmers, through their various organizations, to take up this subject of the relative values of the different varieties of wheat now raisec in our State ; and it would seem tha the board, from their poaitiou and rela tions, are eminently ritted to take charge of this work. Although there was no quorum of the board present, the mem bers here have assumod the responsibüity of directing that this investiga tion shall be commenced at once anc carried on, so that, if possible, the farmers may learn the results before the time for fall seeding. Fortunately, the necessity of comparatively late seeding in order to avoid the injury by deBtructive itismjts, will afford more time for investigation. It is true that " the early bird catches the worm," but it is uiifortunately equally true that tho earlysowii wheat in this State will catch the inseot ! The following plan of invostigation was submitted to the board and adoptud by them : 1. Let a circular be addressed to the farmera' clubs and granges in the State and all interested in this work, through the publio press, asking for statistics of the rolative productiveness of difforont varieties of wheat now raised in our State, tbe replies to be condensed into a brief summary by Prof. Ingersoll ; also, in regard to the relative liability of each variety of wheat to attacks by destructivo insocts, - a brief summary on this topio will be prepared by Prof. Cook. 2. Gather a number of specimens containing two bushels of each variety of wheat from different parts of our State. Let these speoimens be separately ground in the same mannor by some reliable miller, who shall report ;he grinding quality of each variety and the number of pounds of merchantable flour to the bushel of each variety of wheat. 3. Place this flour in the hands of some good baker, who shall report in regard to its baking qualities, and the amount of bread made from the same weight of each kind of flour. 4. Lot this bread be examined by a ooiuniittee of reliable experts, who hall report in regard to the quality of )read from each kind of flour. . Let a specimen of eaoh kind of lour bo submitted to chemical analyses o determine the amount of mineral natter, water, albuinenoids, and carbolydrates. The results of all these separate oxmiimtioiiK will tlum be combined in one report, which will afford the farmer, the miller, and the consumer reliale data from which to judge of the elative value of different varieties of whoat now raised in this State. It i-uniH to me that by suoh methods of nvestigation we may secure informaion which will be of great interest and f permanent value. So far as I can earn, no investigation has ever been made in our State, nor even in the l.'nitd States. By securing reliable information, derived from so many different ources, of the relative value of all t ieties of wheat raised in our State, we ' aall be provided against suddon and capricious fluctuations in the prioo of tbis staple production. In behalf ot the Board of Agricultura, I therefore cali upon tho farmers for prompt replies in response to the information solicitud under the fírst head nauied, in regard to productiveness and liability to injury by insects. If a few of the farniorB' clubs in different part of the Mtate will respond at once to the second plan by donating two bushels of wheat raised in their neighborhood, stating the kind of wheat and the kind of soil upon which it was grown, they will assist us in making a more thorough investigation by enabling us to comparo wheat raised in different seotions of our Stato. I am sorry to use the word dónate, but the truth is that the last Legislature cut down the appropriations to so low a figure that there is not a dollar in the college troasury for such an investigation. I now cali upon tho farmers for prompt information in aid of an in vostigation of great importance to the agrioulturists of our State. Agrioultural Colloge, Aug. 28, 1877.