8 July, 1907.] W/wat and \\ Jicat-Brced'uig. 439 



WHEAT AND WHEATBKEEDmG. 



H. Pyc, Principal, Agricultural College, Dookic. 



The advancement of science has had the effect of drawing special 

 attention to the improvement of wlieat and otlier cereals. Wheats are 

 botanically named according to distinctive characteristics. Thus we have 

 Triticum vulgare practically embracing all the wheats grown in Australia 

 ■for commercial purposes ; T. turgidum embracing such as Australian Poulard. 

 Laidley, and Mummy or Miracle Wheat ; T. durum (Desf) embracing such 

 as Medeah, Belotourka, Kubanka and Velvet Don, principally grown 

 for macaroni making, and now more extensively grown in some 

 countries for blending purposes in the making of high class bread, 

 biscuits, pastry, &c. T . polonicum or Podish wheat is a very distinctive one 

 and is sometimes known as Mammoth Rye ; it has very large glumes and 

 long grains, and these are noticeable in many of the seedlings produced 

 by crossing it on Medeah, Avhilst some of the seedlings resemble Medeah 

 very much. T . cotnf actum is the name applied to some clubbed or square 

 headed varieties of which there are a good many. T. sfclta (L) includes 

 the Spelt or German wheats; T. amvleum or dicoccum, includes the Emmer 

 wheats, and T. monoccum (L) is represented by the one-grained wheat. 

 The last three sub-species are not generally grown for economic purposes, 

 but are to be found only at Experimental Stations. Some authorities 

 classify the sub-species stated above as really distinct species and not sub- 

 species. 



Emmer and Spelt wheats are not of any commercial value in this 

 State, but for feed purposes for stock they would in many instances prove 

 useful. They are difficult to thresh, the ears just breaking up, through 

 being very brittle, whilst the chaff holds tightly to the grain. A few 

 odd grains may thresh out but the flo'ur from these grains is not much used, 

 although it is useful for the purpose of blending with other flour to make 

 special doughs. Emmer wheat with the chaff attached would possiblv 

 be useful for feeding stock in the drv parts of the State where oats would 

 not succeed, and no doubt pigs would thrive well on it. It fields well 

 but the bushel weighs only about 40 lbs. In using the abo\'e wheats for 

 crossing purposes I have not had anv particular success. The ears of the 

 progeny seem brittle, in most instances, and unsuited for general crop pur- 

 poses ; whilst of these crossbreds I have not procured a variety that is 

 suitable for the harvester, and equal to or better than varieties already 

 grown. 



Wheat Breeding. 



As a commercial product wheat stands among the most preeminent, and 

 its production will continue to be a vital matter affecting the economic and 

 social welfare of the people of the Commonwealth. It is not intended 

 to enter deeply into the scientific aspect of wheat breeding, but it is in- 

 tended to give an outline of this interesting work, a work which is more 

 interesting now than, say fifteen vears ago when the rural public had not 

 begun to appreciate its general importance, and its bearing on a huge 

 industry. Times have changed. The agriculturist is perhaps the one 

 individual that the world at large needs most, and it is now doing its 



