254 Journal of Agriculture. [lo April, 1909. 



rather than quantit\ . Very early to mature. Does not shell grain. Straw 

 good height and slightly puxple in colour. Ears tapering at tip, good 

 size, white, grain rather large, white, fairly plump. 



Florence. — A mixture of several bloods including White Naples and 

 Fife. Good yielder, but liable to shell. Resists rust and withstands 

 drought well. Ripens early. Straw fairlv tall and good quality. Ears 

 medium size, tapering. Very open chaff. Grain medium size, plump, 

 white, and hard. A high quality milling wheat and strongly resistant to 

 smut for which it has been specially bred. 



Medeah. — A macaroni wheat. Late maturing. Highly resistant to 

 rust, smut, and drought. Has solid or semi-solid straw. Most suitable 

 for silage. Stock do not like the beards on ear, hence not very suitable 

 for hay. Straw solid and flexible. Ears bluish black, strongly bearded. 

 Grain very large and long ; dark yellow in colour and very hard. 



Kubanka. — Resembles the Medeah very closely in appearance. The 

 beards make stripping difficult, but otherwise a useful variety for green 

 feed or silage. 



In subsequent reports the characteristics of a large number of other 

 varieties will be dealt with. 



Summary. 



In looking back to the results of the first season, the Wheat Improve- 

 ment Committee has cause for satisfaction in the general success attending 

 the work. It will require at least four or five seasons before any new cross- 

 bred varieties can be placed on the market. The variety and rigidity of 

 the tests to which all hybrids have to submit, before being deemed worthy 

 to find a place under field conditions, must necessarily limit the number of 

 successful crossbreds. Unless a crossbred is manifestly superior in one 

 or other characteristic to any variety now being generally grown, it would 

 serve no useful purpose to advocate its extended growth. 



The Committee is keenly sensible of the importance of the work under 

 its charge, and for that very reason will exercise the most rigorous care that 

 none but proved types shall carry their imprimatur. 



It is proposed to inspect as large a number of farmers' wheat crops as 

 possible during the coming season, for the purpose of accumulating leading 

 facts in regard to the behaviour of varieties under changing conditions. It 

 is probable, also, that advantage will be taken of the opportunity to make 

 selections from crops grown under field conditions with the view of improv- 

 ing the type by natural selection. Lectures on the objectives and results 

 of the work should do much to arouse the interest of the wheat grower 

 towards a more complete knowledge of true commercial value of his pro- 

 duct. 



Farmers living in the neighbourhood of any of the experimental stations^ 

 are cordially in\itpd to inspect the work at anv time during the season. 



'vm 



