lo May, 1909.] Wheat Improvement Committee. 



ear of which, when well filled, has six grains to the spikelet, the seventh 

 or central floret being infertile, though at odd times all seven florets in one 

 or two spikelets are fertile. 



Peculiar Variations in the Grain and its Bearing on the Yield. 



I have occasionallv reported on the variations in grain due to the ripen- 

 ing being affected by climatic conditions. The self-evident results due to 

 the absence of moisture, to the presence of fungoid pests, and to hot 

 winds, need not be touched on except in so far as they apply to a peculiar 

 variation which I desire to again specially bring under notice. Sometimes 

 a sample of wheat will show horny, translucent grains, opaque grains, and 

 others partly translucent and 

 partly opaque. It frequently 

 happens that farmers^ on 

 seeing this, come to the con- 

 clusion that the sample is of 

 different varieties. Such h 

 not necessarily the case, as 

 with some varieties all three 

 kinds may sometimes be ob- 

 tained, even on the one 

 plant. Yet in most cases the 

 surmise of impurity is prob- 

 ably correct, as most of the 

 varieties commonly grown dc 

 not show the variation. It 

 would seem that, when 

 ripening is gradual and the 

 conditions generally are good, 

 the opaque grains predomi- 

 nate in varieties subject to 

 this variation. The presence 

 of nitrogenous manure.^ 

 seems to affect the seeds, 

 causing the horny or semi- 

 translucent grains to pre- 

 dominate. Whether it would 

 he otherwise were there no 

 hot winds to rapidly ripen 

 the grain, I have not had the 

 opportunity here to ascer- (i, 2, 3, 4, and 5) Seedling crossbreds originated 

 tain, as the nitrogenous fer- at Dookie. The ear represented by Fig. 4 is 10 

 tilizers lengthen the growing '"^hes long. (6) A Spelt wheat. (7) Bunyip selec- 

 . , J .1 • ^ 1 X tion. 8) Jade. g Comeback. 10) Double 



periodand this extends to j,^^^^^/ \^{^ Federation. (12) Stanley (a Fife). 

 the time when the hot (13) improved Steinwedel. 

 winds are experienced. 



It is noticeable that when the soil is practically in its virgin state, and 

 when it is in good heart, the evenness of the quality of the grain as regards 

 opaqueness is usually assured in the varieties subject to the variation. 

 Where the crop has been forced with dressings of phosphatic fertilizers, 

 the abundant growth developed becomes as a rule prematurely ripe, and 

 the semi-translucent and the opaque grains are in evidence. To insure the 

 opaque, starchy-looking grains, gradual ripening appears to be the main 

 factor, followed by fertile conditions of soil. Stimulated growth, rapid 

 ripening, and premature ripening from whatever cause it mav arise, deter- 

 mine more or less the semi-translucency of the grains. I am not in a posi- 



8. types of tapering ears. 



