Journal of Agriculture. [8 March, 1907. 



suited to highlaml and cool climates. Does not resist drought Avell. and 

 is rather weak in the straw. 



Other Wticats. 



Stcimccdel. — Originated in South Australia: resists drought well, and 

 is suited to hot dry districts. Is very early, stools well, and yield.s 

 heavily, ijut the grain shells badly. 



Fanner' s Friend. — A Purple Straw variety derived from the old Red 

 Straw ; stools strongly, resists drought, very proliiic, ripens in mid season, 

 and holds its grain well. Does well even on poor land, but on rich 

 soils and in moist seasons is liable to suffer severely from rust. 



Australian Talavera. — Belongs to the Lammas group; is a hardy, 

 prolific, free stooling wdieat ; is fairlv drought resistant, and withstands 

 cold- weather. Is fairlv rust resistant, a good hay wheat, but rather 

 liable to shell. 



Dart' s Imperial. — Originated from seed selected bv ]\Ir. Dart, of South 

 Australia. Is of the Purple Straw type, but rather Later than most. 

 It is liable to rust, but resists drought well and is suited to hot climates ; 

 stools freely, and gives good yields of grain and hav. 



^FirsliaW s Xo. j. — A variety originated by Mr. Marshall, of So-uth 

 Australia, and is derived from Ward's Prolific. It is rust resistant, fairly 

 prolific, moderately good drought resister, and ripens medium to late 

 m the season. Has a tendency to make a large flag, and is a good hay 

 wheat. 



Kubanka {Ahiearoni Wlieat). — One of the best of its kind. Is a 

 bearded variety, and unsuitable for hay. Is a good drought resister, 

 stools weakly, is not a prolific vielder. Its chief advantages are that it 

 will yield in seasons when other wheats are killed out bv drought. 



To reduce the figures on previous page tO' common terms, it will be seen 

 that the strongest flour wheats of those grown on Victorian experimental 

 fields are Bobs, Kubanka, Tarragon, and Federation, while the weakest 

 in that respect are Cumberland, Dart's Imperial, Farmer's Friend, 

 Steinwedel, and Jade. It is hoped that this information will prove of 

 service to farmers having the desire to improve the auality as well as the 

 quantity of wheat thev produce. 



Projected Departmental Inquiry. 



The w^heat-growing industry is too valuable a one to the State to allow 

 of any scientific investigation being left undo^ne which might jeopardize 

 the extension of the industry, and also of our growing export trade in 

 flour. The development of markets for flour in the East and South 

 Africa, and the keen competition of other countries demand the improve- 

 ment of our wheat varieties by everv means possible. It is hoped before 

 long to mature a scheme whereby the systematic and continuous analyses 

 of Victorian wheats will be undertaken by the scientific staff of the 

 Department, with the \iew of affording information of advantage both 

 to the local miller and wheat producer. Meanwhile the experi^mental 

 fields serve the \ery useful purpose of sorting out the varieties both 

 suitplile and unsuitable to the varying climatic and soil conditions of our 

 northern districts. 



