646 



Jon run] of A ijrirnlf tt re, Victoria. [10 Nov., 1916. 



the winter proved to be the wettest on record, no less than 17.17 inches 

 falling during the growing period. The flat land on which the experi- 

 mental plots were situated was water-logged, with the result that the 

 yield was greatly reduced. 



The variation in composition due to differing soils and climatic con- 

 ditions is here shown : — 



Table VI. 



A general decline in quality may be noted in the composition of the 

 average sample of the wheats grown at these farms. Wheats grown at 

 Longerenong, generally speaking, are superior in quality to those grown 

 at Werribee and Rutherglen. 



Table VI. offers a comparison between the variation in general com- 

 position of a number of wheats grown in different districts during the 

 past year. Table VII. compares the protein content of a number of 

 named varieties grown at Longerenong and Rutherglen during the past 

 four years. 



Table VII. 



American 8 . . 



Dart's Imperial 



Federation 



Gluyas 



King's F.arly . . 



Marshall's Jio. 3 



Prolificacy in its Relation to Strength. 

 The wheats most popular with the grower include those noted as 

 being good yielding varieties, the question as to whether they are strong 

 or weak being a secondary consideration. The strength of a flour is 

 measured by its water absorption capacity. The two characteristics, 

 viz., prolificacy and strength, are not usually found associated in any 

 on« variety. The commonly grown varieties in this State all belong to 

 the soft wheats, very few of which are noted for high strength. Con- 

 siderable variations occur in this characteristic, but, as a rule, we find 



