Dec. 2, 1908.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 1027 



*' Wonder Wheat": An American Wheat Story. 



Paragraphs have been in circulation in the Press recently concerning won- 

 derful returns from wheat grown in Alaska. It was asserted that the Alaska 

 wheat will yield 200 bushels to the acre, and conjectures have been made of 

 the results when the wheat-producing countries of the world are sown with 

 this fabulous grain. Many inquiries have been made of the Department of 

 Agriculture respecting it, and it is possible that efforts may be made to sell 

 small quantities of this, or a similar alleged wheat, at exorbitant prices. 

 The Departmental Wheat Ex peri mental ist states that the variety referred to 

 is the well known "Miracle" or " Mummy" wheat, which belong to a group 

 of wheats known as Poulard, Turgid, or Rivet Wheats (botanical naine of 

 which is Triticum turgidrun), to which also belong the better-known Austra- 

 lian Poulard, and Galland's Hybrid. Many of this family have the habit of 

 producing compound or divided ears, and because of this habit they are called 

 Miracle, or wonderful wheats ; so that the name Miracle is not confined to 

 one variety, but is given to any variety of this class having divided or branch- 

 ing ears ; this habit of producing compound ears is likely to lead the 

 person not familiar with these varieties to believe that exti'aordinary yields 

 would be obtained from them, but they are by no means prolific, and only 

 yield in a very moderate manner. 



Their value for milling is low, the flour being rich in starch, and poor in 

 gluten, dark and unsuitable for bread-making, except when mixed witli much 

 ^' stronger " flour. 



This group of wheats is by no means new to Australia. Under the names 

 of Young's Bearded, Hen and Chickens, Mummy, Miracle, and Egyptian, 

 different varieties have been growing in this country since the early days of 

 wheat-growing. 



Some of these varieties are rust-resisting ; one of them under the general 

 name Egyptian, because of its rust-resisting character, was fairly generally 

 grown on the east coast, just after the prevalence of rust made the cultivation 

 of common bread-wheats impossible in those districts. 



Personal : Mr. P. G. Ciiomley. 



Readers of the Gazette, whilst regretting that Mr. Chomley is severing his 

 connection with the Agricultural Gazette, will be pleased to learn of his 

 promotion to the position of Manager of the Experiment Farm at Yanco. 

 Mr. Chomley has acted in the capacity of Sub-editor of the Gazette for nearly 



four years. 



