324 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



Vuhfiire Wheats: " Rietti." — Rust on straw, inclined to shed and not an exceptional 

 yielder. Has proved suitable for this area during three years" trial. 



"Mains Patent." — Rust on straw. Proved the heaviest yiekler of all tlie varieties. 

 This is the first year it has been put on trial and is a promising wheat. " Bombay," 

 " Primrose," " Florence," " Clarendon," and " Bvmyip " ;ilso siive fair results in this 

 area. 



V/iriefies reconimended fur the Tramv(ial.--¥n\\ iiifnnnatiou couccriiina- varieties 

 suitiible for the Transvaal may bcfruind in Lncal Series Bulletin No. 28 of the Department 

 of .Virriculturc. 



The Government Agronomist from the e.'ipc'iiencf gained at the Pietersburg Dry-Land 

 Station, and from co-operative exi)erinients with farmers, recommends Enntier as a rust- 

 resistant variety, and Black Don as a spring or summer wheat. 



Rate of Seeding.- — " The average amount of seed for grain is 

 45-60 lb., while for hay and forage 1 to 2 bushels may be used. For 

 grain the amount sown may be as low as 30 lb. in dry mallee* districts 

 to 65-70 lb. in moister districts. Generally speaking, sow early crops 

 thin and late crops thick; sow light land thicker than rich, heavy 

 hind ; and be sparing with good stooling varieties, and correspond- 

 ingly liberal with varieties of poor tillering capacity. About 20-25 

 per cent, more seed is required with the broadcaster to give the same 

 braird as the drill." 



'J'he ordinary' rate of broadcasting in the south-western wheat districts of the t'api' is 

 1 bag of seed to 25-8 morgen of ground, according to variety and other circumstances. 



Method of Sowing. — " Since the introduction and general use of 

 superphosphates in the wheat-growing areas of the State, the old 

 broadcaster has been superseded by drills, wliich sow seed and 

 manure through the same hoes. 



"The advantages of broadcasting are: (1) The small cost per 

 acre; (2) the large areas that may be sown in a day. The advantages 

 possessed by the drill more than outweigh those of the broadcaster. 

 With the drill, seed and manure may be sown in the one operation. 

 This not only economizes labour, but it also enables young plants to 

 rapidly find the superi)lios])hate and make vigorous growth in the 

 earlier stages of their existence. Moreover, with the drill the germina- 

 tion is far more regular, because it is sown at a uniform depth. 

 Finally, the depth of sowing may be regulated with the drill to suit 

 the condition and nature of the seed-bed." 



Exy)eriments at Elseiilnirg during the last five years have shown fairly conclusively that 

 a heavier yield may ordinarily be expected from drilling than from broadcasting. From 

 these experiments, however, it cannot yet be definitely stated that the inci'ease in yield is 

 sufficient to compensate for the incieascd cost of drilling over broadcasting, though the 

 indications are that drilling is protital)le. The experiments will be continued until the 

 question is settled. 



Field trials by the Ex[)erimentalist in the south coast (Humansdorp) wheat areas, and 

 at the Grootfontein School of Agriculture, over a number of years, have, with one exception. 

 been all in favour of drilling, with yield and cost considered. 



Grading of Seed. — " If there is one thing that has been con- 

 clusively demonstrated by carefully conducted experimental work it is 

 the fact that plump grains are greatly superior to shrivelled grains 

 from a productive point of view. Great emphasis must be laid on 

 the necessity for the selection of hardy, vigorous prototypes, because, 

 under favourable conditions, small but well-developed seeds from 

 highly productive, vigorous plants, may give better results than large 

 grains from unproductive plants." 



* Mallee districts, so-called fiom the Mallee Scrub which coveted this pait of the country 

 when in a virgin state. 



