RETORT OF TEE DIRECTOR 



49 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



mined by the nature of the soil — beyond which the stirring of the soil by the plough 

 docs not appreciably affect the moisture-content or, at all events, cannot be done 

 profitably. 



Earliness in ploughing has shown itself conducive to moisture storage in a most 

 marked degree. The delay of a few weeks has resulted in a decidedly lower moisture- 

 content throughout the rest of the season. 



In ' subsoil packing ' the data show a well-marked advantage for light and sandy 

 loams, but that there was little extra conservation of moisture from this operation 

 on heavy clay loams. 



INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENT ON THE COMPOSITION OF WHEAT AND BARLEY. 



This research, inaugurated in 1905, and continued since that date, has shown 

 that soil and seasonal conditions may markedly affect the composition of wheat and 

 barley. For the past three years, wheat from the same stock has been grown on the 

 larger number of Experimental Farms and Stations from Prince Edward Island to 

 British Columbia, and the harvested grain analyzed. The data obtained in a very 

 large measure confirm those of previous seasons from similar experiments conducted 

 in the northwestern provinces only, and go to show that a moderately dry soil, accom- 

 panied by high temperatures during the period in which the grain is filling, tend to 

 arrest the vegetative growth of the plant, to hasten maturity, and conduce to a hard 

 berry, with a high percentage of gluten and high baking value. It would seem from 

 this investigation that the excellent quality of northwestern-grown wheat is due in 

 part, at least, to climatic conditions which prevail during the later summer months 

 over large areas in the grain-growing districts, and which bring about a quick matur- 

 ation of the grain. 



The results, as regards protein (gluten), from the examination of the 1912 crop 

 are of considerable interest in showing the variations that may occur in one season's 

 growth at points across the Dominion. 



Protein in Marquis Wheat Crop of 1912 (calculated on water-free basis). 



Labora- 

 tory No. 



11209 

 13923 

 13102 



13288 

 13008 

 13173 

 13146 

 13596 

 13174 

 13'. 139 

 12842 

 13166 

 13680 



Locality grown. 



Parent Seed, Indian Head, Sask. 1911. 



Charlottetown, P.E.I 



Nappan, N.S 



Cap Rouge, Que 



Ottawa, Ont 



Brandon, Man 



Indian Head, Sask 



Rosthern, Sask , 



Scott, Sask 



Lethbridge, Alta., irrigated 



ii ii non-irrigated 



Lacombe, Alta 



Agassiz, B C . 



Protein 

 (Nx5.7) 



14.62 

 12.50 

 13 29 

 14.96 

 16.81 

 17.21 

 17.02 

 17.17 

 18.10 

 16.32 

 17.93 

 18.09 

 14.77 



As an illustration of the principle cited, that available soil moisture influences 

 the protein-content, attention may be directed to the data from Lethbridge, Alta. The 

 soil on the non-irrigated plot was found to be from 2 per cent to 4 per cent drier 

 during June, July and August than that of the irrigated plot, and the wheat from 

 the drier soil proved, Dn analysis, to be the richer in protein by 1.61 per cent. 



16—4 



