72 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Feb., 1916. 



Wheat Varieties. 



Three years ago a series of co-ordinated tests were commenced on the 

 Eutherglen, Werribee, and Wyuna State Farms and the Longerenong 

 Agricultural College. Every available variety of wheat was tested in field 

 plots, with the object of determining the varieties most suited to local 

 conditions. At the same time a commencement was made to raise pure 

 bred seed, true to type, and free from any admixture of foreign varieties, 

 of twenty of the most prolific types that were in general cultivation. 

 Moreover, an effort was made to raise the standard of each variety by 

 subjecting it each year to a rigorous and continuous selection by methods 

 to be presently described. 



ttfe^awb^h t:^^^;^- 



View of ' ' Stud Selection Plots, ' ' Rutherglen Experiment Farm. The 

 produce of these plots is sown on the ' ' Seed Plots, ' ' which in turn furnish 

 material for the bulk areas. The prolificacy of each variety is maintained 

 by selecting year by year the best plants appearing in these plots. (Vide 

 diagram, page 69.) 



As a result, the Department is now able to distribute a considerable 

 quantity of each of these varieties among farmers, which will furnish 

 each farmer with material from Avhich he can ultimately raise sufficient 

 seed to sow his whole farm. 



For the purpose of convenience, the varieties that are being dis- 

 tributed may be classified as follows : — 



Early Wheats. — College Eclipse, Comeback, Gluyas, King's 



Early. 

 Mid-season and Late Wheats. — Bayah, Commonwealth, Currawa, 



Dart's Imperial, Federation, Major, Marshall's I^o. 3, 



Penny, Yandilla King. 



Hay Wheats. — Hugenot, "Warden, Zealand Blue. 



The following varieties were also tested, but the yields have not been 

 consistently high enough to justify further trials: — Bunyip, Thew, 

 Genoa, Viking, Firbank. 



