Bombay wheat is whiter and heavier than that from Kattyawar, aud produces a greater quantity of soojie and flour. That of Kattyawar is smaller and darker, and produces good flour, though smaller in quantity, with less soojie.
Added to their dryness, the thinness of the skins of Indian wheats, and the consequent greatnes.s of the yield of flour, must always place them in the front rank as a miller's wheat, whenever they are handled with reasonable intelligence and skill. Such unprecedented yields of flour as shown by these wheats, ranging (by ordinary grinding) from 77.46 to 80'52 per cent., against English 65-2, and American spring 72-2, Epeak volumes in their favour ; and their value is still further in creased by another point of merit of almost equal importance, viz. a larger percentage of bread may be obtained than from other floura. For the bes't of these Indian wheats (the fine soft white), on the day they were valued on Mark Lane Market, a price was offered as high as that for American winters,' New Zealand, or English. The beany flavour of
the other three sorts is not a serious obstacle, as fair average deliveries, when well cleaned and properly dealt with, can be employed in the proportion of 25 to 50 per cent. along with home-grown or other wheats, such as Americans, possessing a. fine sweet milky or nutty flavour. Glancing at all the facts, Messrs. M`Dougall think it is .evident that these wheats afford a larger margin of profit, both to the miller and the baker, than any other.
Wheat is largely used in China. It is exclus ively raised in the provinces of Ho-nan, Shen-si, Shan-si, Shan-tung, and Peh-chi-li. As a rule, it is sown in winter although occasionally as a spring crop. It is usuaily sown broadcast.
India's best soils yield on the average ten bushels per acre, while England yields near 30 bushels the acre. Sir J. B. Lawes has raised 43i bushels of 62 lbs. Each additional bushel to the acre of the present cultivated area of India is equal tb the yearly maintenance of 22 millions of people.