66 Jonnial of Agriciili/irc. [8 March, 1907- 



amount of laboiUr put into a smaller area, will have the result of pro- 

 ducing the same amount of wheat at a prohabK' lower cost per bushel than 

 is the case at present. It seems generally accepted that wheat and sheep 

 farming are two industries which are interdependent; such being the 

 case, an alteration of methods entailing the growth of such crops as rape, 

 peas, or other fodder plants is being forced on the wheat-grower in order 

 to insure the success of the lamb-raising industry. This establishes a 

 rotation of crops, and at the same time brings about a most desirable end 

 in the restoration of humus to the soil bv medium of the refuse of thle 

 crops themselves and the droppings: of the sheep. The use of artificial" 

 fertilizers and the introduction of ncAV wheat varieties, both highly im- 

 portant in themselves, are immenselv assisted when the physical condition- 

 of the soil is such as to allow of more perfect aeration, nitrification, 

 abso.rption and conservation of moisture. Without these latter, a large 

 part of the monev expended bv the farmer in the purchase of manures- 

 and seed is rendered u.seless by the inability of the soil to respond. 



The main features then of the wheat experiments being made clear, 

 we mav proceed to inquire what so far has been the progress in the 

 direction of the introduction of new Avheat varieties towards the solution 

 of the main problem. 



Harvest Reti-rns of Wheat Varieties. 



.\11 seed was graded and pickled with blue stone previous to sowing, 

 at the rate of 50 lbs. per acre. vSuperphosphate at the rate of ^6 lbs. 

 per acre was used uniformlv on all A'arieties. Sowing took place during 

 the months of April and Mav, and in all cases was carefullv and 

 accuratelv done bv the officers of the Field Branch. During the progress 

 of growth, the crops were regularlv inspected and field notes made, to 

 establish the habits of growth as well as anv particular characteristics- 

 of the dift^^erent varieties. 



It will be remarked that die vields of plots i to 13 inclusive, are 

 in the majoritv of cases lower than the remainder of the field. I 

 attribute this, not so much to the varieties themselves, which were all 

 early wheats, but rather to the fact that this portion of the field bore 

 different fodder crops in 1905. and was thus practicallv cropped two 

 consecutive vears. 



Criticism of the Returns. 



One cannot study the above returns without being impressed with the 

 fact, that under identical soil and climatic conditions, some varieties, 

 show a marked superiority over others. That this superiority is fairlv 

 uniform in all districts, is to my mind complete evidence of the universal 

 suitabilitv of these varieties, and mv opinion is confirmed bv the fact 

 that, out of the ten leading varieties last year, nine of them again occupy 

 the leading plaices. This should be sufiicient to establish the claims of 

 these \arieties, viz.. Federation. Jade, Dart's Imperial, Australian 

 Talavera. Sussex, Siher King, Tarragon, White Tuscan, Frampton and 

 ^Nlarshails Xo. 3, to more extensive trial bv farmers themselves, on a 

 larger scale than the scope of the plots allows. 



Some of the maximum yields ha\e been truly magnificent, and out of 

 a total of thirtv-eight varieties, no less than thirtv-one have vielded from 



