118 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



GROOTFONTEIN, MIDDELBURG (CAPE). 



Wheat. — " Yeomaii," a wheat produced by Professor Biffen at 

 Cambridge, combining- the heavy cropping powers of certain English 

 wheats with the high-milling qualities of Canadian wheats, and 

 having, moreover, valuable rust-resistant characters, is considered to 

 be one of the heaviest cropping wheats generally known. It is, 

 however, late maturing, and is therefore somewhat at a disadvantage 

 when planted in the Karroo, owing to the necessity' for late irriga- 

 tion, and its liability to attack by birds. An attempt has been 

 made at Grootfontein to combine its valuable cropping and rust- 

 resistant characters with earlier maturity by crossing it with early 

 maturing varieties. Some of the crosses obtained have given good 

 promise, which, it is hoped, will be fully justified by the results of 

 further trial. 



Reports from farmers, who are using the Bird Proof variety of 

 wheat obtained from this institution are to the effect that it is 

 proving very satisfactory. 



Lucerne. — From the Chinese Lucerne, which after several years' 

 trial continues to give more satisfaction generally than other varieties 

 at this institution, some 1700 root selections liave been made and 

 planted out. In September last a few selections were made and 

 transplanted, and on these seed is now setting well. 



Poultry. — At each of the Schools of Agriculture attempts are 

 being made to build up high producing strains of birds of the various 

 breeds of poultry by selection and careful mating and testing of the 

 progeny in single joens. At Grootfontein a nine-mouths' egg-laying 

 test of the first generation of the birds selected at this institution for 

 building up good egg-laying strains was recently completed. The 

 numbers of birds, breeds represented, average monthly records, and 

 order of merit, were as follows: — 



• Number ' Average 



of Hens in Breed. Monthly 



Test. Record. 



13 ... White Leghorns 14.7 



13 ... Brown Leghorns 13.5 



17 ... White Wyandottes 12.3 



6 ... Buff Orpingtons 8.7 , 



7 ... White Orpingtons 8.6 



6 ... Speckled Sussex 5.1 



The White Leghorns scored all along the line, the best and 

 poorest layens of this breed being better than the best and poorest 

 respectively of any of the other breeds. Both the Brown Leghorns 

 and the White Wyandottes, except for two birds in each group, also 

 gave consistent results. The numbers of eggs laid by the birds of 

 these three breeds were satisfactory, but the grade of eggs left much 

 to be desired, the greater proportion not attaining first grade. 

 Attempts will be made by judicious mating to rectify this under- 

 grade character, and the result of this mating to be seen in the next 

 generation will be awaited with interest. 



