124 



The Journal of Heredity 



CROSS SECTION OF A WHEAT LEAF 



Above and I:)clo\v, the leaf is bounded by a single layer of epidermal cells (e), between which 

 lies the main mass of the leaf cells, the mesophyll. "The upjjcr portion of the mesophyll 

 is typically closer in structure than the lower portion, whicli is usually spongy in charac- 

 ter and contains a large number of intercellular spaces. Tliese intercellular chambers form 

 labyrinthine spaces in which air circulates freely in the interior of the leaf. Scattered 

 t rough the bod\^ of the meso])hyll are the vascular bundles (v.h.) which form in wheat 

 a set of parallel strands serving not only as skeleton for the support of the remaining leaf 

 tissues, but also as media for the conduction of sap to every part ( f the leaf." Pliotograph 

 highly enlarged. (Fig. 11.) 



reach that goal, and in less than a 

 decade flood the market with varieties 

 like Federation — the most prolific and 

 jKJiJular farmer's wheat in the Common- 

 wealth; Bobs and Comeback — of un- 

 surpassed milling excellence; Florence 

 and Genoa — bunt-resisting varieties ; 

 and a hosi of others enjoying wides])rcad 

 ]jo]jularit>', such as Bunyip, Thew, 

 Bayah, Warren, Genoa, Firbank, Cleve- 

 land, Cedar, Jonathan, etc., must have 

 possessed in an unusual degree the 

 insight of genius. It is no exaggeration 

 to say that Farrer has added millions 

 sterling to the national exchequer by 

 the creation of Federation wheat. Dr. 

 Cherry estimates the cash value of 

 Farrer's work to Victoria alone during 

 the 1909 season at £250.000. Since that 

 estimate was framed, the area sown 

 with this iJO])ular variety in Victoria has 

 greatly increased, and the benefits have 

 become commensurately greater. 



Farrer's work was continued l)y 

 G. L. Sutton, late Wheat Experimenlal- 

 ist of New South Wales, who did a great 

 deal to po])ularize the I^'arrer varieties 

 amongst fanners. 



In this State, II. Pye, ihc i)n'S(^-nl 

 Principal of Dookie Agricultural College, 

 has been the most jjrominent investiga- 

 tor of the problems connected with the 



improvement of wheat varieties. For 

 many years he collaborated with Farrer 

 in the testing of new varieties, and the 

 independent work he has done has 

 resulted in the production of a number 

 of crosses possessing iinproN'cd qualities, 

 which are now undergoing the j^rocess of 

 fixing and testing on a commercial scale. 

 The work of jjroducing new varieties of 

 value is necessarily slow and tedious, 

 and the results of Mr. Pye's long and 

 patient work will doubtless be of im- 

 mense benefit to wheat-growers. 



In South Avistralia, the improvement 

 of varieties by selection and cross- 

 breeding is carried out at the Paraiield 

 Wheat Research Station and at the 

 R()seworth\' Ct)llege. The demand for 

 improved and selected cereals from both 

 these centers has for many years past 

 greatly exceeded the sujjply. 



Many of the varieties grown in the 

 wheat areas of the Commonwealth were 

 originated by private farmers. With 

 one or two exceptions, these \arieties 

 were obtained by selection from the 

 ordinary crop. Among many of the 

 \arieties that might l)e mentioned are 

 Dart's Imperial, Marshall's No. .■?, 

 Correll's No. 7. King's Early, Yandilla 

 King. Stcinwedel, Petatz Sin-prise, Car- 

 michael's Ecli])se, and Huguenot In 



