Ap7'il 2, 190S.J Agricultural Gazette of N.S. W. 341 



To ensure that tliese wlieats will Ije I'esistaiit to smut, each generation of 

 the cross was subjected to the following rigorous treatment, which is as- 

 severe as it is possible to devise. The seed before being planted was so- 

 thoroughly infected with smut spores as to be quite black with them. The 

 extent of infection may be judged by comparing the illustrations Figs. 1 

 and 2 with each other. Fig. 1 is from a photograph of the grain before it 

 was infected, and Fig. 2 of the same grain after infection. The seed after 

 being thus infected— and in a degree never to be met with under ordinary 

 conditions — was planted without further treatment. From these test& 

 Florence and Genoa have emerged triumphant in regard to their ability to- 

 resist smut ; they have proved themselves to be over 99 per cent, smut- 

 resistant, that is to say, that out of 100 seeds thoroughly infected in the 

 manner described 99 plants have been found to be entirely free fi'om smut at 

 harvest time. 



To ensure that the freedom from smut is due to the inherent ability of the 

 plants to resist the attacks of the parasite, steps are taken to determine that 

 the absence of smut is not because of seasonal or other peculiarities. 



Florence and Genoa are the result of the same crosses ; the varieties used 

 in their production being White Naples, Improved Fife, Hornblende, and 

 an Indian wheat. 



Florence is a very early wheat, Genoa being about a fortnight later, other- 

 wise they have similar characteristics. Both are vigorous grower.-s, stooling 

 feeely, with rather narrow stiflf leaves ; they are of medium height, with straw 

 of good colour right to the ground. Genoa holds its grain rather more 

 firmly than Florence, which gives pron)ise of being more suited to the warm 

 dry districts than Genoa ; it also promises to be more prolific. Last season 

 at Cowra, its yield in a small field trial was at the rate of '35 bushels per 

 acre, exceeding that of Genoa by 41 per cent. 



As milling wheats they rank very high ; a test made by Mr. Guthrie shows- 

 that the grain weighs 68| lb. per bushel, produces 74^ per cent, of fiour, with 

 a strength of 52, and containing 13"9 per cent, of dry gluten. 



The introduction of these wheats marks another stage in the history and 

 progress of wheat-breeding in New South Wales. With their advent, the 

 production of smut-resisting varieties has passed the experimental stage, and 

 is now well within the realms of practical agriculture. Their intr(jduclion 

 indicates to the farmer that, in the very near future, the operation of treating 

 seed grain for the prevention of smut will be unnecessary. For even if these 

 varieties do not prove for farmers' requirements equal to those already in 

 cultivation, other smut-re.sistant varieties will soon be available to suit any 

 of our conditions. 



Jumbuck. 



This variety is rather late, being about the same season as Genoa, and is- 

 suitable for early planting in warm dry districts, or for mid-season planting 

 on the cool tablelands. It is of the same breeding as Tarragon, which is the 



