Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter II
Harrancutthefasteningsoftheseandexaminedthecontentscarefully,takinghandfulsofwheatfromeachandallowingittorunthroughhisfingers,ornippingthegrainsbetweenhisnails,testingtheirhardness.
Theseedwasallofthewhitevarietiesofwheatandofaveryhighgrade,theberrieshardandheavy,rigidandswollenwithstarch.
“Ifitwasalllikethat,sir,hey?”observedPhelps.
Harranputhischinintheair.
“Breadwouldbeasgoodascake,then,”heanswered,goingfromsacktosack,inspectingthecontentsandconsultingthetagsaffixedtothemouths.
“Hello,”heremarked,“here’saredwheat.Wheredidthiscomefrom?”
“That’sthatredClawsonwesowedtothepieceonFour,norththeMissionCreek,justtoseehowitwoulddohere.Wedidn’tgetaverygoodcatch.”
“Wecan’tdobetterthantostaybyWhiteSonoraandPropo,”remarkedHarran.“We’vegotourbestresultswiththat,andEuropeanmillerslikeittomixwiththeEasternwheatsthathavemoreglutenthanours.Thatis,ifwehaveanywheatatallnextyear.”
Afeelingofdiscouragementforthemomentboredownheavilyuponhim.Atintervalsthiscametohimandforthemomentitwasoverpowering.Theideaof“what’s-the-use”wasuponoccasionaveritableoppression.Everythingseemedtocombinetolowerthepriceofwheat.Theextensionofwheatareasalwaysexceededincreaseofpopulation;competitionwasgrowingfiercereveryyear.Thefarmer’sprofitsweretheobjectofattackfromascoreofdifferentquarters.
