288 



JoitDial of Agriculture. 



[lo May, 1909. 



tion to definitely state tlie cause, which mav be due to several factors, act- 

 ing either jointly or sei>arately. Tlie characteristic is rarelv noticeable 

 in the Purple Straw wheats, but in Durum, Poulard, and some Fife types 

 and their crosses evidence of oi>aque spots or splashes in a semi-translucent 

 base is frequently met with. The apjjearance of the semi-translucent grain 

 would lead one to expect it to be relati\el\- richer in gluten than the oi)aque 

 grain, because it more nearly approaches in appearance the grain of some 

 wheats of high gluten-content. It does not, however, follow that the 

 wheat will be relatively rich in gluten. The translucency may be due to 

 the thinness both of the walls of the starch cells and of the outside cover- 

 ing of the grain, i.e., the braiii ; or it may be due to the absence of a 

 medium checking the disintegration of the cells and so. the refraction of 

 light. 



9. BALD AND BEARDED POLISH CROSSBREDS ORIGINATED AT DOOKIE. 



As a rule, the vield is higher when the wheats assume the more starchy 

 appearance, as the variation, in size is not so great. Thus, in the grading, 

 the percentage of first quality wheat is higher than where the semi-trans- 

 lucency is more in evidence. It is only by building up our knowledge of 

 natural conditions from minute details that it is possible to implant in any 

 variety those qualities that make it desirable for practical uses. For this 

 reason the improvement of varieties is a slow prcx^ess. 



With the establishment of a variety which will, under a proper svstem 

 of cultivation, increase the output of the farmer e\'en by a small fraction 

 over that of the general class of wheats, a not inconsiderable amount is 

 added to the wealth of the State. It is most probable, too, that the more 

 general cultivation of wheat in the areas of better rainfall will have an 

 appreciable effect on the average yield of the State. With a view to 

 effecting a still greater increase in the yield, the elimination of los.ses due 

 to fungoid pests has recei\"ed no little attention. And the prospect of pro- 

 ducing varieties that resist bunt, loose smut, and rust, is becoming more 

 encouraging season by season. The physical attributes as regards good 

 harvesting qualities are now readily implanted, thus checking other loss. 

 Thus the introduction of prolific varieties that stand out in those attributes 

 that commend them for practical purpo.ses must, in conjunction with good 

 methods of cultivation, bring prosperity to the wheat growers of this and 

 other States. 



