550 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [Aug. 2, 1920. 



of the second jjjeneration can now be selected, care having been exercised 

 that cross-fertilisation with the inferior ones has been avoided by bagging 

 the heads. If the seed of such plants be sown the following year, it will 

 he found that in all probability a fairly uniform type has been produced 

 wJiich possesses desirable characteristics. 



We liave now the nucleus, after three years, of an improved strain of 

 sorghum. In the following season, the seed from the best plants or from 

 the best row of plants can be sown in a bulk plot for working up a stock by 

 mass selection, or in a liead-to-row manner as in previous years, for further 

 improvement. If desired, the best pure line progeny can be determined by 

 comparing the weights and other characteristics of each individual row, each 

 row representing one particular plant. 



The composition of the various Mendelian units or factors which determine 

 the best plants, and the combination or segregation of the various factors in 

 the successive progenies have never been investigated. In improving the 

 strain, however, such knowledge is not essential. By experience, it has been 

 shown that certain desirable characteristics can be selected and im|'roved. 

 Such features as sweetness, earl}- maturity, height, sturdiness (including 

 sturdiness of head stalk), and probably (although not definitely proved) 

 resistance to " stain " can be developed by the methods described. 



Working on these principles, one strain of sorghum of the Planter's Friend 

 type (temporarily called No. 61) has now been developed and is being sown 

 on a fairly large scale. At "Wollongbar Experiment Farm this sorghum 

 proved considerably superior during the past season to local Planter's Friend 

 in yield and sweetness, and earlier in maturity. At Grafton Experiment 

 Farm it exceeded the new variety Saccaline in yield, was three weeks earlier 

 in maturing, and exhibited no noticeable inferiority in sweetness. At Berry 

 and at Glenfield it was also better than any other variety grown. 



Three other strains that are most promising in charncter have also been 

 developed, but seed is not available for sowing on a large scale. 



An interesting feature in connection with this improvement work has been 

 noticed in the development of a particular strain. Plants were selected for 

 excessive thickness and large seed heads, pithy plants being discarded (as in 

 the other strains) when the heads were harvested. It has been noticed that 

 while the strain breeds remarkably true for sturdiness and large seed heads, 

 the pithiness appears much harder to eliminate than in the other strains. 



Characteristics of No, 61. 



This sorghum is distinct from Planter's Friend in possessing better stool ing 

 qualities, a heavier clean leaf growth, and earlier maturity. Its seeding 

 (jualities are particularly well developed, the heads, which are fairly compact, 

 being 9 inches long and averaging 3 ozs. per head in weight. The outer seed 

 f'lumes are much ledder in colour than those in ordinary Planter's Friend, 

 and the seed stipules are also fairl}- common. From a half-acre plot of this 

 sorghum about 1,500 lb. of seed was harvested, to be used on farmers' 

 experiment plots and distriimted to farmers. 



