DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY 



227 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



plough does not appreciably affect tlie 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 indicate that there was % little extra conservation of moisture from this 

 operation on heavy clay loams. 



THE INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENT ON THE COMPOSITION OF 



WHEAT. 



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

 that soil and seasonable 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 1912 in a 

 very large measure confirm those of previous seasons from similar experiments con- 

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

 accompanied by high temperatures during the period in which the grain is filling, 

 tend to arrest the vegetative growth of the plant, 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 prevailing during the latter summer 

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

 maturation 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 1912 (calculated on water-free basis.) 



Laboratory 

 Number. 



11,209 

 13,1123 

 13,162 

 13,288 

 13.0U8 

 13,173 

 13,146 

 13,596 

 13,174 

 13,939 

 12,842 

 13,100 

 13,080 



Locality grown. 



Parent Seed, Indian Head, Sask., 1911. 



Charlottetown, P. E. I 



Najipan, N. S 



Cap Rouge, Que 



Ottawa, Ont 



Brandon, Man 



Indian Head, Sask 



R st hern, Sask 



Scott, Sask 



Lethbridge, Alta., irrigated 



n it non-irrigated 



Lacombe, Alta 



A.gassiz, B. C 



Protein 

 (N x5-7) 



14 62 



12 50 



13 29 



14 96 

 16-81 

 17 21 

 17 02 

 17 17 

 1810 



16 32 



17 93 

 18-09 

 14 77 



As an illustration of the principle we have 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 



16— 15i 



