610 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G. 
EXPERIMENTS IN RUST AND STINKING 
SMUT IN WHEAT DURING 1901. 
By D. McAtpinz, Pathologist, Victoria. 
[ Abstract. | ; 
Rust IN WHEAT EXPERIMENTS. 
Since 1890, there have been continuous experiments in 
Victoria on the above subject. The main object had been 
to devise measures whereby the ravages due to rust may 
be materially diminished, and this object has been to a 
certain extent secured by means of selection and crossing 
of wheats. Port Fairy, a district favourable for the de- 
velopment of wheat had been selected for the experiments. 
_An account of the experiments followed. The course 
adopted in testing varieties for their rust resistance was to 
sow the seed at first in small quantities, say, from 20 to 50 
grains, in what were called single seed plots. Seeds of 
each variety were sown by hand in rows, 18 inches apart, 
and 6 inches between each seed in the row. Then, if con- 
sidered worthy of further trial, they were again sown in 
medium sized plots, after careful selection, and _ finally 
grown on a large scale in big or field plots. When a 
variety was found to promise well, and possessed the 
necessary rust resistance, it was selected for further trial. 
The best ears of the plant were saved, and the tips and 
butts were removed. The large, well-nourished grains 
towards the middle were selected for next year’s sowing. 
Variety tests were carried out in different districts, to 
determine their suitability and how far resistance to rust 
in one locality held for a different set of conditions in 
another locality. The process of careful seed collection had 
been going on for a number of years, and the result was 
a number of improved varieties, which were gradually 
being introduced into general cultivation. The work of 
cross-breeding had been undertaken in New South Wales. 
‘““Queen’s Jubilee” was one of those crosses. As it was the 
premier wheat of the season, as far as yield was concerned 
__..- (42 bushels per acre), he had given it an appropriate name. 
=": Jt was the following cross (Leaks and Hornblende), and 
“Ward’s White and Tourmaline. It was comparatively 
_ early, heading on September 28, and ripe on November 7. 
-It was evident that the two great factors in combating the 
wheat rust in Australia were selection and crossing. In 
