April 2, 1908.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S. W. 337 



Seasonable Notes. 



Notes on some of the lesser known varieties of Wheats 



AVAILABLE FOR FaRMERS' EXPERIMENTS. 



GEO. L. SUTTON, 

 Wheat Experimentalist. 



8oME u£ the wlieats referred to lust month as being available for farmers' 

 experiments are now well known to farmers, but as others are not so well 

 known, and some of them are being placed in general cultivation for the first 

 time, a few details regarding their characteristics are sure to be of interest to 

 those engaged in the industry. 



Bunyip. 



This is a very early variety, being about a week earlier than Federation, 

 and about a fortnight earlier than Steinwedel. On account of its extreme 

 earjiness, to plant it early in the season is to court failure with it ; towards 

 the end of May will be found (|uite soon enough to sow it. This varietv seems 

 admirably suited for our warm dry districts, and will be found very valuable 

 for late planting. It is not a rust-resister, but because of its especial 

 earliness it is likely to escape injury from this pest. 



The growth is vigorous, fairly compact, and erect, and, like Federation, 

 the plant is short and strong. These qualities, combined with the fact that 

 it does not readily shell, make it admirably suited for tliose districts where 

 stripping is general. 



Its sliort stiff straw and rather pale colour, however, cause it to be rather 

 unsuitable for hay. After heading, because of its upright and level-headed 

 character, a crop of this wheat presents a most attractive appearance in the 

 field. The gi'ain is large and plump, and when milled jircxluces about 70 per 

 cent, of flour, with a strength of 52-6, and having II"-") per cent, of dry 

 gluten. 



Comeback. 



This wheat is not as well known in this State as in South Australia, 

 where it has proved to be a satisfactory yielder, and to produce Hour equal 

 in strength to that of the Fife or ^Manitoba varieties. 



Because of its earliness it is likely to prove very suitable for our warm, dry 

 districts ; and because of the character of its foliage, which indicates that t 

 will resist rust, it is worth a trial on our coastal areas. 



It is a vigorous growing earlv variety, with clpan, slender, but e'astic, 

 straw, qualities which make it \aluable as a hay wheat. 



