140 



Journal of Agriculture. 



[10 March, 1909. 



over a wide range of soils and \arying climatic conditions, but yet the Fede- 

 ration seems to hiave achieved this success. Federation, strongly advo- 

 cated by the Department, has been grown each iseason for four years against 

 the Dart's Imperial, which is generally accepted as being the variety most 

 extensi\"ely grown by the wheat farmer in Northern Victoria. The follow- 

 ing comparison is interesting : — 



The above return clearly illustrates the superiority of Fedeiration over 

 Dart's Imperial by an average of 2 to 3 bushels per acre for a term of 

 four years. E.stimating 2,000,000 acres as the average cut for grain 

 each year, an additional 5,000,000 bushels of wheat at 3s. per bushel net 

 would mean ^^7 50,000 distributed amongst tha whdat-girowers. It is 

 doubtful if anv more ^•aluab]e comparison has previously been made in 

 Victoria between the capabilities of two wheats. The Field Branch is 

 justly proud of having been the means of distributing Federation wheat, 

 which fact alone has already compensated the State many times over for 

 the expense incurred in the conduct of these fields. 



Conclusion. 



It is proposed to further prosecute the testing of new wheats during the 

 coming season. The Federation will be accepted as the standard and all 

 varieties not coming within measurable distance as regards yielding qualities 

 will be discarded. The portions of the field under crop during 1908 will 

 be fallowed and maintained in good order for further cropping in 19 10. It 

 is also proposed to submit samples of the wheat grown upon the experi- 

 mental fields to a milling test, as soon as the plant is in working order. 

 Subsequently, the milling qualities of all varieties will be made public, and 

 the wheat grower encouraged to persevere only with those of a high grade 

 as regards flour production. 



The Field Branch acknowledges the assistance and (-(nirtesv shown 

 during the whole term of the experiment by those concerned. 



