April 3, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S^.W. 



23X 



1918. — No sulphate of iron used. Tbe condition was again seen and 

 counts were made of the thoroughly affected plants, which were then removed, 

 those only slightly affected (one or two heads only) being neglected. 

 Earliest ripening varieties were least affected, mid-season and late sorts 

 suffered most, but none were immune. Some eighty-one varieties were 

 under observation, totalling 6,746 plants. Of these, 725 were pulled up, 

 giving 10 per cent, diseased plants in the plots examined. 



The Effects of Disease on Cowra No. 15. 



Note the pinched appearance of the two outside heads. 



1919. — The trouble was not found. No sulphate of iron was used. The 

 only weak and apparently diseased plants were attacked by white ants. 

 This season was very dry, only 15-78 inches of rain for the year. The wheat 

 was remarkably free from fungus diseases of all kinds ; if the condition was 

 the result of want of vigour in the plants one might have expected to see it 

 this season. 



1920. — We propose this season to use sulphate of iron again, and would 

 ask farmers to pull up an entire plant with a little earth left on the roots, 

 double it up and send it in a small parcel to the Department for examination 

 if specimens are found. A loss of 5 per cent, of wheat to the State is not 

 inconsiderable, and the trouble, which may be one for the Entomologist^ 

 should be cleared up, so that dummy heads may give place to full production. 



