10 March, 1916. 



Tx<;nearches on Wheat Selection. 



141 



of these cultivating implements and consequent extra tilth of narrow 

 strips. Neither horses nor workmen trod on the plot throughout the 

 period of preparation. When ready for planting long planks were 

 placed along the spaces intended for paths, and by arranging the 

 centgener plots in squares of four, it was possible to plant the seeds 

 with the centgener planting board without putting foot on any of the 

 soil reserved for the plants. 



WEIGHT OF EARS PRODUCED 

 IN CRAMS 



/■S 



WEIGHT OF INDIVIDUAL GRAIN 

 _ IN MILLIGRAMS 



WEIGHT OF EARS PRODUCED 

 IN CRAMS 



39 27 O IS 



.J3-S 2./ 



Fig. 1.— Diagram of ear of Federation Wheat, showing position of grains in ear 

 and their individual weights and prolificacy. 



In order to prevent any plant surrounding the blanks caused by the 

 non-germination of seed securing an advantage over their less fortunate 

 competitors, seeds of Indian H, an early maturing variety of wheat, 

 were used to fill up thes« gaps. Thus we endeavoured to insure tliai 

 in each plot 100 plants of known parentage should struggle for an 

 existence on terms of equality in a uniform environment. 



A brief reference to the structure of the wheat ear is now necessary. 

 Botanically, the ear is a spike, bearing o!i alternate sides of a flattened 



