84 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [Fd>. 2, 1920. 



Elephant Grass in Elevated Localities. 



It is not many years since the Department first discovered lor local farmers 

 the qualities of Elephant grass as a fodder, and the months still bring reports 

 of the behaviour of the crop under varying conditions which add to our 

 knowledge of its utility. Mr. J. H. Curran, of Copeland, near Gloucester, 

 lately reported that he raised a crop from a hundred plants obtained from 

 Grafton Experiiuent Farm on 14th September, 1919. In reference to the 

 remarks in a recent issue of the Agricultural Gazette that the land should be 

 " not too elevated," Mr. Curran wrote : " Well, I am up 2,700 feet and this 

 is the result. So far, in brush land, seventy out of a hundred plants grew. 

 There was no rain until about 12th November, when we got 2 inches. 1 

 had given the plants about a quart each at planting, and altogether they 

 have had about 4 inches since planting. They have stooled out up to eighteen 

 stools from a plant, the average being about twelve stools and the growth to 

 date 3 feet 10 inches. This land was not manured or cultivated, and the plants 

 were just put in holes made with a mattock, but I have already taken about 

 400 plants from them (rootlets) and put them out in the creeks, and they 

 are all showing well. I consider that there is no grass to equal it for growing, 

 and I am experimenting with about sixteen different varieties. When I 

 received the plants they had no sign of growth and looked like last year's 

 maize stalks. I am well satisfied with the results so far, and will let you 

 know further results later regarding growth, &c., as I do not intend to cut 

 it or eat it down until April." 



Two New Canadian Wheat Varieties. 



The attention of the Department was directed a couple of years ago to two 

 new Canadian wheats, Kitchener and Red Bobs, by a reference in a local 

 newspaper. Small packages of seed were kindly supplied by the breeder, 

 Mr. Seager Wheeler, Saskatchewan, Canada, and the past season's experience 

 has enabled some idea to be formed of their characters. 



. Kitchener is a selection from Marquis, and is said to have yielded up to 82 

 bushels per acre in Canada; Red Bobs is also a Canadian wheat, but the 

 pedigree is unknown here. Kitchener comes into head at the same time as 

 Marquis and yields rather better than that variety. It has a beardless white 

 ear (tip-bearded) and purple straw. The grain is red, hard, and apparently 

 of good milling quality. It is doubtful whether it yields sufficiently well for 

 our conditions, and another trial will be made next season. 



Red Bobs comes into ear six days before Marquis and resembles Bobs a 

 good deal, the ear being open, white, and tapering but bold, and the grain 

 red, hard and of apparently good milling quality. It seems likely to shatter, 

 though this did not occur during the present season. It is quite likely that 

 this wheat will yield about the same as Bobs, but another trial will be made 

 next year comparing it with that variety. 



These two varieties seem to be superior to Marquis, but further tests are 

 necessary to determine whether they should be tried in farmers' experiment 

 plots. — J. T. Pridham, Plant Breeder. 



