CANADIAN WHEAT 5*7 



of the most competent authorities in England and by Mr. Julicher, of 

 Minneapolis, one of America's best known wheat experts. 



Though only a few varieties have been specifically mentioned in 

 this article because they have been most thoroughly investigated, yet 

 many others show great promise, some of them maturing two weeks 

 earlier than Bed Fife. These will probably prove valuable not only 

 in northern latitudes, but also in cold and damp soils farther south. 

 A variety that proves promising at one station is tested at the others 

 and if it is satisfactory it is grown in plots larger than the experi- 

 mental, and the very best grain is selected for further experiments. 



Until within the last few years experiments on the milling proper- 

 ties and quality of flour of a new variety of wheat could not readily 

 be carried out because small quantities of grain could not well be 

 ground in ordinary flour mills, and several years were needed in order 

 to grow a sufficient amount for testing, but now the use of a small 

 experimental mill and of the necessary baking apparatus enables every 

 new variety to be tested before it is distributed to farmers throughout 

 the country. For experiments have not been confined to the Experi- 

 mental Farms. After it has been found that a variety proves satis- 

 factory on the small scale and in the special localities under the super- 

 vision of the government, the seed is sent out to all farmers applying 

 for it. The first year 1,149 lots were sent out in this way; in 1906 

 over 45,000 samples, each of five pounds, carefully selected and done 

 up in strong cotton bags. In order to provide this seed, large areas 

 are set apart, chiefly at the stations in the northwest, whence the grain 

 is sent to Ottawa for distribution. The very earliest sorts are sent out 

 so far only to those places where there is good reason to hope that they 

 will be of particular value. 



Dr. Saunders calculates that even without including the far north- 

 ern territories the Canadian northwest could supply not only sufficient 

 wheat for a local population of thirty millions, but have left over three 

 times as much as the total import of the British Isles. This is on the 

 assumption that one fourth of the arable land is devoted to wheat. 

 If the northern lands are made available by the cultivation of very 

 early varieties of wheat it follows that the possibilities of Canada are 

 immense. 



Dr. Saunders's work is therefore of the greatest value to Canada 

 and must have an influence on the rest of the world as well. 



