Wheat and its Cultivation. 32.H 



however, heavy showers fall intermittently during this period the 

 seeding is considerably delayed, and much of the crop must be sown 

 too late to secure optimum results." 



Tiine to Son). — " Sjjeaking- generally, it may be said that it is safe 

 to sow seed during the normal seeding period, when the soil is either 

 sufficiently dry to leave the seed ungerminated, or else when the soil 

 is so thoroughly moist as to induce immediate germination. There 

 is an intermediate stage, however, between these extremes when it is 

 dangerous to sow wheat. This condition arises when the soil is 

 neither dry nor wet, but contains sufficient moisture to induce ger- 

 mination, yet insufficient to keep the young plant fully supplied with 

 moisture. Under these circumstances, unless rain opportunely falls, 

 the soil begins to dry out and the grain malts. While wheat and 

 other naked seeds are very susceptible to malting in slightly moist 

 and rapidly drying soils, oats and barley, with their tough, fibrous, 

 protective envelopes, are not so susceptible. Hence, while it may be 

 unsafe to sow wheat under such conditions, barley and oats may be 

 sown with much less likelihood of loss. Many farmers in their 

 anxiety to get overlarge areas, frequently commence seeding opera- 

 tions earlier than is indicated above. If timely showers supervene 

 and the young plants are brought on with exceptional vigour result- 

 ing in rank, heady growth, a check may be administered by judicious 

 feeding down with sheep, or if a comparatively late maturing variety 

 is selected for seeding in the early part of the season, such condition 

 will not arise." 



Varieties to Sow. — " The choice of varieties is governed by the 

 physical character of the soil, the climate in which the wheat is to be 

 grown, and the purpose for which the wheat is required. The farmer 

 must select those particular wheats which prove the most favourable 

 and profitable under his particular conditions. The difference between 

 the yields of two varieties of wheats grown on the same farm, under 

 absolutely identical conditions, is often sufficient to more than pay 

 the rent or interest on the land on which the crop was grown. 



" In the drier districts, in normal seasons, the earlier varieties 

 are generally the most suitable, whilst in districts where the rainfall 

 is heavy and the growing season more protracted, late maturing wheats 

 may be expected to yield better results than early wheats. Some 

 wheats of outstanding excellence may do well in any district, but it 

 rarely falls to the lot of any variety to have such a wide range of 

 usefulness. It is a good maxim for the wheat grower not to confine 

 himself to a single variety of wheat." 



J'arifitie.'i recommended/or Soutli-West Area of Cape. — For detailed information as to 

 the variety to sow in this area, the readerjis referred to an article entitled " Results of Winter 

 Cereal Experiments at Elsenburg," appearing in the April and May, 1920, and February, 

 1921, numbers of the Journal. 



Varieties recommended for the South Coast {Ifumansdorp^ Districts. — In experiments 

 carried out at Humansdorp which is representative of a large stretch of south-coast; districts, 

 the Durums, owing to their slightly superior resistance to rust, gave as satisfactory or in 

 many cases better yields than the "Vulgare" wheats. The following wheats are recom- 

 mended as a result of these trials : — 



Durums : " Persian Black." — Very slight rust and a good yielder. It has proved to 

 be the best coastal wheat for several years. 



" S.A. Medeah." — Rust on straw and a good yielder, though not quite as good as the 

 " Persian Black." It is a great favourite in this area. The 1919 crops were very good. 

 " Blignaut," " Harmse," and " Kort Zwart Aar " also give good results. 



