[sAUNDEas] CEREAL BREEDING ON EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 155 



In spite of its marvellous successes, Marquis cannot be heralded 

 as the ideal wheat for all parts and all soils of Saskatchewan and the 

 neighbouring provinces. Throughout some very large areas this 

 variety is by no means early enough to be secure from frost in average 

 seasons, when sown on summer-fallowed land. Such land usually 

 contains a considerable amount of niuisuuxv., «o tkcvt in g. ■-•««•^v^^i w.'+u 

 normal rainfall there is a tendency towards the production of very 

 long straw and the ripening of the grain is considerably delayed. For 

 these conditions an extremely early-ripening wheat is essential. 



Ever since the Experimental Farms were first established the 

 quest for early varieties has been going on; but all the extra early 

 wheats which have hitherto been tested (whether introduced from 

 abroad or bred at home) have possessed some fatal defect which made 

 it impossible to recommend them for general cultivation in the districts 

 where very early sorts were required. Systematic efforts have, however, 

 at last brought about the desired result, and the writer had the keen 

 delight, during the past winter, of inaugurating the general distribution 

 of a most satisfactory variety. Prelude, which ripens at the very begin- 

 ning of harvest, almost with the early sorts of barley. 



Prelude has not been produced in one season, but is of rather 

 complex pedigree, three different crosses having been made before 

 it was obtained. The first of these was made in 1888 between a Russian 

 variety obtained from near Lake Ladoga and the well-known White 

 Fife. From this cross was obtained a variety which was named Alpha. 

 In 1892 Alpha was crossed with a wheat obtained from India in a com- 

 mercial mixture known as Hard Red Calcutta. The name of Fraser 

 was given to one of the varieties produced from this cross. In 1903 

 Fraser was crossed with a very early-ripening variety from India, 

 obtained under the name of Gehun. Prelude is one of the selections 

 made from among the various types produced from this cross. 



The nîain characteristics of Prelude wheat are as follows. It is 

 of extremely early-ripening habit, being usually ready for harvesting 

 (in the districts for which it is especially recommended) about two 

 weeks before Marquis, that is to say about three weeks before Red Fife. 

 The heads of the wheat are bearded and rather small but the spikelets 

 are well filled. The straw is short, and of rather feeble appearance. 

 It stands up exceptionally well in the field, however, and quite belies 

 the judgment of those superficial observers who have pronounced it 

 weak. The shortness of the straw is a great advantage in the regions 

 referred to, where most varieties grow altogether too tall; but this 

 feature will limit the usefulness of this wheat in dry districts, where 

 it will be of value only on exceptionally moist land, if at all. The 

 kernels of Prelude are red, rather exceptionally hard, and of remarkably 



Sec. IV, 1913—10 



