A more definitive explanation:
From "Accounts and Papers relating to Corn, Grain, Wheat &c" Vol. XVIII
(1828)
"After visiting the cultivators of wheat in Mecklenburg, I had
opportunities of conversing with the merchants of Rostock and Wismar, who
had been chiefly engaged in the trade of that article [wheat]. I was
informed by them, that the greater part of the wheat came from the farms in
such a state, as to make it necessary to skreen it over again before it was
fit for the English market, in which operation a portion varying from eight
to sixteen percent of the quantity, was separated from it, and sold as
inferior, or technically, TAIL WHEAT, being scarcely fit for any purpose
but feeding poultry or pigs."
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=nzZbAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA18&lpg=PA18&dq=%22Tail+wheat%22&source=bl&ots=cI03CypIbY&sig=aW4bdbbdnlp_NU4kKu_7zo6S3U0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiPmpS50oLdAhWpIMAKHXwNAdw4ChDoATAHegQIAhAB#v=onepage&q=%22Tail%20wheat%22&f=false
Referring to my earlier thoughts of it possibly being an ale, one might
speculate that poor quality wheat might well have been a suitable commodity
for brewing a cheap ale, but I expect the Snailbeach reference will be for
the grain crop.
Peter
On 23 August 2018 at 06:44, Andy Cuckson <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Can anyone help with a definition of the agricultural term 'tail'
> associated with wheat?
> Can't tell if it's a noun or a verb.
> Seen in a few documents associated with Snailbeach mine co's farming
> enterprise.
> Many thanks
> Andy Cuckson
>
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Peter Burgess
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Wealden Cave and Mine Society www.wcms.org.uk
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Honorary Archivist for Reigate Grammar School
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