THE INFLUENCE OF THE ENVIRONMENT ON THE 

 MILLING AND BAKING QUALITIES OF 

 WHEAT IN INDIA. 



No. 1. The Experiments of 1907-08 and 1908-09. 



I. Introduction. 



The question of tlie effect of environment on the quality of 

 wheat is of the greatest importance from several points of view. 

 Not only does it ai!ect the question of seed distribution and the 

 introduction of new varieties, but it is also of vital interest to the 

 breeder. It has long been a vexed question as to how far excellence 

 of quality in plant products is determined by environment, and 

 how far it can be considered as characteristic of the race. To the 

 plant-breeder, therefore, who wishes to combine in one race excel- 

 lence on various points a knowledge of the exact part played by 

 hereditary influence and by environment in producing such 

 qualities becomes essential. 



Before considering the work of former observers on the sub- 

 ject it will be best to consider firstly what are the characters of the 

 wheat grain which may be affected by change in environment ; 

 and secondly the economic significance of such changes. 



The characters of the wheat grain which may be affected by 

 change in environment are the following : — 



1. Colour. — It has often been stated that certain types of 

 soil will transform a white wheat into a red wheat. This subject 

 has been dealt with at length in a former paper,' when it was shown 

 that there is no evidence that such a change has ever taken place, 

 except as the result of natural cross-fertilization. 



2. Size and Weight of the Grain. — The size and absolute weight 

 of the grain vary consideral)ly both in different localities and also 



1 Howard aad Howard, Memoirs of the DepartmetU of Agriculture in India (Botanical 

 Series), Vol. II, No. 7, 1909. 



