lo April, 1909.] Report of Wheat Improvement Committee. 241 



and which shall be capable of producing good yields in any season of 

 normal rainfall. At first sight, it appears difficult to reconcile the some- 

 what conflicting view points of the farmer, the miller, and the baker. 

 The farmer, under existing circumstances, unhesitatingly gives priority to 

 the varieties wiiich will fill the most bags per acre. The miller looks for 

 a wheat which will mill easily, and produce a large percentage of flour of 

 ^ood colour. The ideal of the baker is to procure flour which will pro- 

 duce the greatest number of loaves per ton of flour, with a minimum of 

 •difficulty in handling. The evidence ascertained by the Committee during 

 the last season adds weight to the opinion advanced by wheat experi- 

 mentalists generally, that yield and quality do not always go hand in 

 hand. In other words, the most prolific yielding varieties are generally to 

 be found among the " weak flour " types of wheat. 



The question of whether quality should be subordinate to yield depends 

 on whether the inquirer is a farmer or a baker. The Committee clearly 

 recognises that, for the present at all events, the prolificacy of any variety, 

 new or old, transcends in importance all other factors. Every effort is 

 therefore being made, both by means of selection and cross breeding, to 

 achieve success in this direction. At the same time, factors of equal im- 

 portance, such as quality of flour, and resistance to disease, are being care- 

 fully investigated, w-ith the view of ultimately associating them with a 

 variety of high yielding capacity. 



The work of the Committee embraces ten-acre stations at Dookie 

 College, supervised by Mr. Pye, and 10 acres each at the Government 

 Farms at Wyuna and Rutherglen, also 50 acres for breeding plots and 

 for the provision of seed for sale at Longerenong College, the three last 

 •being controlled by JNIr. Lee. 



At Longerenong, the field operations are under the care of Mr. J. T. 

 Pridham, who has had the benefit of three years' training under the late 

 Mr. Wm. Farxer, at Queanbeyan, and latterly at the Government Wheat 

 Experimental Farm, at Cowra, New South Wales. Mr. Pridham has fur- 

 nished the Committee with most of the tabular matter included in this 

 report. 



Field Operations at Longerenong. 



Five acres Avere set apart for single rows of all procurable varieties of 

 wheat. From these rows, typical plants were selected for crossing pur- 

 poses. Every facility was given, by hand-hoeing and weeding, to enable 

 the plants to attain their maximum development, so that the parents of all 

 hybrids were thoroughly matured. Nearlv 70 cross fertilizations were 

 •carried out, the objectives being : — 



{a) To increase yield. 



[b) To reduce straw. 



\c) To minimize smut liability. 



[d.) To affect period of maturity. 



{e] To improve capacity to hold grain. 



(/) To improve rust resistance. 



(^) To strengthen straw. 



{h) To improve milling quality of grain. 



Period of Maturity. 

 Upon this factor a good deal often depends. A late maturing w^heat is 

 more liable to the effects of dry weather, which may cause the grain to 

 pinch, or to the effects of storms which may destroy the crop entirely by 

 beating out the grain. A too early wheat may interfere with the hay 

 harvest. Generally speaking, it seems likely to be established that those 



