]16 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



Dr. Nobbs, the Director of Agriculture in Rhodesia, is credited 

 with making the cross at Elsenburg about the year iyu< . The various 

 selections grown to-day are the progeny of the original crossbred, and 

 were made by Prof. Neethling in 1912. Some ten to fourteen of the 

 most promising selections have now been growm here for the past six 

 .seasons. The returns of these selections for the last four years on large 

 plots (one-fifth acre) are very promising. These are given in Table I 

 above. 



On account of inequalities of soil the experimental fields were 

 removed in 1914-15 to the present site. For this and other seasons 

 the returns for these two years of the Union selections as well as of 

 certain of the other standard varieties are not included in the table of 

 results. 



As can be seen from the table of results, and as is the experience 

 of farmers throughout the coastal belt from Darling to Bredasdorp, 

 the selections must be considered better yielders than any of the 

 early varieties. 



As compared with Gluyas Early, which is still extensively grown 

 in the sections referred to, the Union Selections are better yielders, 

 tiller better, and are less liable to lodge. The Union Selections are, 

 however, subject to rust in certain localities and in certain seasons. 

 The early maturing selections are not affected to the same extent as 

 the later ones, such as Unions 28 and 116. 



Before a description of each of the UTnion Selections, recom- 

 juended for the coastal belt of the south-west Cape, is given, a short 

 description of the other parent Darling is necessary. 



Darling. — This is a tall-growing variety which stools moderately 

 well. It has a hollow straw which is inclined to he weak on soils of 

 liigh fertility. The ears are creamy white in colour, bald, fairly 

 long, and inclined to taper. The spikelets are open ; the grain is 

 small, plump, and white. 



The following cliaracteristics are possessed by the various UTnion 

 Selections : — 



(1) Some show the bald characteristic of the parent Darling, 

 whereas others are tip-bearded like Gluyas. 



(2) The majority have light or dark-brown ears, but a few are 



creamy white in ear like the parent Darling. 



(3) As regards maturity, U. 52 is ihe earliest; U. 17, 11, and 



94-1 are somewhat later; and U. 28, 81, and 116 are the 

 latest. 



(4) It is interesting to note that U. 52, 9, and 17 resemble the 



parent Gluyas in foliage, straw, and especially in shape, 

 colour, and size of the ear; whereas U. 94-1 and 116 

 resemble in these respects the parent Darling. 



Bombay , Sel. 44-3. — The variety Bombay was originally intro- 

 duced from India and closely resembles the variety Kleinkoorn, grown 

 extensively in some of the inland districts of the Cape. Bombay is a 

 short-growing- variety, varying in height from 2-2^ feet. The selec- 

 tion 44-3 tillers well, has a thin strong straw, but is inclined to lodge. 



