lo Mar., 1911.] Northern Grain Experimental Fields. 151 



Summary of Returns. 



Throughout the State the Federation variety of wheat still takes first 

 place as a grain yielder with the splendid average of 24.13 bushels per 

 acre. This variety is followed by College Purple Straw, 21.47 bushels, 

 and Yandilla King with 21.03 bushels. 



The average yield for all varieties is 19.22 bushels per acre as com- 

 pared with 18.40 bushels per acre on the same fields last year and 14.62 

 bushels for the preceding year. 



In the seed test plots, where Federation wheat was sown in varying 

 quantities per acre, the 65 lbs. per acre gave the best general average, 

 namely 19.87 bushels per acre, but in the Mallee districts the 80 lbs. per 

 acre gave the best results by i-6o bushels per acre. 



Among the oats, Carton's Stout White stands out first with 33.29 bushels 

 per acre and at Goorambat gave the splendid yield of 49.44 bushels. This 

 variety is closely followed by Algerian with an average of 32.24 bushels, 

 whilst Tasmanian Giant takes third place with 30.58 bushels per acre. 

 These particular varieties of oats, together with Western Wolth's Rye grass, 

 were introduced into the plots for the purpose of demonstrating that 

 suitable fodder plants can be profitably grown in the Northern areas 

 iis a stand-by for live stock grazed on the farm. 



II. EXPERIMENTAL WORK AT LONCERENONG 

 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



/. 7'. PridJiain, Wheat Experimentalist. 



Of the 50 acres 01 the Collegt- land set ai)art for the use of the Depart- 

 ment nearly 5 acres were devoted to hand-sown plots. These were sown 

 ■in drills i foot apart and single seeds were dropped at every 6 inches in 

 •the rows. This is a slow method, but it has the following advantages: — 

 (i) a small quantity of seed will go a long way. (2) each individual plant 

 can readily be distinguished from its fellows (and this is very important 

 in wheat breeding and imijnivement). (3) hneir.g and weeding are facilitated. 



Wheat. 

 Crosses made. — There were nineteen crosses made which gave a very 

 satisfactory percentage of grain on the average. In this work, the aim 

 has been to secure a prolific variety which shall also have grain of satis- 

 factory milling quality. Although we have no testing mill, advantage 

 has been taken, when chcosing parents for a cross, of the milling analyses 

 of varieties already published. 



Three crosses were made on oats. 



Seed harvested from crosses made in 1909.— There are 92 crossbreds 

 ill this section, of which .seed has bt^vn saved. The most promising of 

 •ihese are cros.ses l)etween prolific luiglish varieties; also heavy yielding 

 jiurpli- straw wlieits with Indians iiiid I'"i fe Indians. The requirements of 

 the \\ inuiiera district are that a \ariii\ shall Ci) st.iiid up well against 

 heavy winds, (2) hold its grain well, (3) ripen early, imt not t(X) early. 

 Some of these crossl)re(Is a])]«'ar likely to lie very satisfactory in these 

 respects, others will need furtiier crossing to improve thi-m. 



Crossbred seed of third generation (crosses made in 1908). — In 

 planting these, 71 ])er cent, were rejected as unsuil.ible and «)f the nineteen 

 cn)ssbre(ls of which seed was itlanted eight were thrown out at harvest 

 time as unnrdifir <ir liable to shake out their <:rain. 



