106 Juiinutl of Ayrifiiltiiri, Victoria. [10 Feb., 1917. 



and Tschermak independently re-discovered Mendel's law, William 

 Farrer, a Cambridge graduate, working as a wheat specialist in New 

 South Wales, finally fixed a new variety of wheat — Federation — that 

 was destined to become the most popular and profitable variety of wheat 

 cultivated m Australia. So popular has Federation become that Farrer 

 may be said to have changed the colour of our hai-vest fields from golden 

 yellow to dull bronze — the colour of his own Federation wheat. 



It is difficult to estimate exactly what the introduction of Federation 

 has meant to Australia. So far as Victoria is concerned, we would be 

 well within the mark in saying that during the last five years the increased 

 yield due to Federation wheat is at least 1 bushel per acre, or approxi- 

 mately, £500,000 per annum. Not only did Farrer succeed in producing 

 the most popular and prolific variety in the Commonwealth, but he also 

 produced two of the best milling wheats in the world — Bobs and Come- 

 back — as well as a host of other varieties suited for special districts. 



Agricultural Problems Awaiting Solution. 



A glance at the isohyets of rainfall for Australia will convey a good 

 impression as to the future jjossibilities of the island continent. The 

 10-iuch and 20-inch lines of rainfall divide the continent into three con- 

 centric belts of approximately equal area. 



The outer belt-— what may be called the dairying belt — has a rainfall 

 of 20 inches or more. In this area the rainfall is sufficient to permit 

 intense forms of agriculture to be practised — dairying, fruit culture, root 

 crops, market gardens. 



The intermediate zone, except north of the tropics, corresponds to 

 the wheat belt, whilst the inner zone of lowest rainfall is the pastoral 

 area 



There are, approximately, 600,000,000 acres in each of these three 

 divisions. Of these three belts the most interesting is the intermediate 

 zone, with a rainfall of 10-20 inches per annum. It is in this belt that 

 the greater portion of tTie wheat is grown. The accompanying map 

 shows the area under cultivation in each district compared with the total 

 area. It will be seen that only a vei-y small proportion of the area is 

 occupied by crop 



A feature of the agricultural development of Australia during the 

 last fifteen years has been the gradual extension of the cultivation into 

 areas that a generation ago were considered too di^y for successful 

 farming. 



'Ten years ago it was considered thai the 15-inch line of rainfall was 

 the limit beyond which wheat-farming was a gamble. Now, land with an 

 average rainfall of 10 inches has been successfully worked in South Aus- 

 tralia. The problem of pushing the limits of the wheat belt beyond its 

 presenl confines is the most fascinating ever brought before an agricul- 

 tural community. Every 10 miles we can push back the present margin 

 means a new province of 15.000.000 acres added to four wlieat States 

 of Australia. 



What are the factors for the successful utilization of these areas ? 

 — (1) More efficient farming methods, (2) the use of suitable varieties 

 of wheat. 



Note first that the greater part of the rainfalls in the growing period 

 from April to October, i.e.. at a time wlien the evaporation is small and 

 the rain is most efficient. In Victoria about 70 per cent, of the rain 



