536 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G2. 



The continuous use of superphosphate alone, which was 

 becoming general before Mr. Farrer's death, caused him a con- 

 siderable amount of anxiety as to the collapse which seemed to 

 be most probable ; and he particularly desired to demonstrate 

 the value of green manuring and of other manures for wheats, and 

 probably Mr. Sutton may throw some light upon results obtained 

 in the paper which I understand he will read before this Conference. 



The testing of wheats in Sydney had necessitated the use of 

 water and, afterwards, electric power for working the flour mill, 

 and the increased testing of wheats necessitated the purchase 

 of a much larger mill, but even with such an addition the require- 

 ments of millers and others, together with the Departmental tests, 

 increased the work so considerably that unavoidable delays some- 

 times occurred. Referring to this, Farrer wrote to me : — 



" I think the time has come for the Sydney millers to organise means 

 of testing their wheats and flours themselves instead of throwing the doing 

 of them on us." 



Towards the end of his life Farrer was clearly overtaxing his 

 strength, notwithstanding many remonstrances and warnings. On 

 the 6th January, 1906, he wrote : " My body is too tired every 

 night for office work ; the red-tape about engaging men worries 

 me, and I am unable to muster energy to pen a memo." ; and on 

 the 9th March, not long before his death, he wrote : " You see, 

 therefore, how in reality matters stand, and what the forces are 

 I am having to contend against ; but I feel I am in the right so 

 far as the real interests of the Department are concerned, and I 

 mean to win." — And he won. 



2.— THE REALIZATION OF THE AIMS OF WILLIAM J. FARRER, 

 WHEAT BREEDER. 



By GEO. L. SUTTON, W. A. Department of Agriculture, formerly of N.S.W. Depaitment of 



Agriculture. 



At a meeting of this Association held in 1898 the late William J. 

 Farrer read a paper in which he defined his aims and described the 

 work he was doing in connection with " The Making and Improve- 

 ment of New Varieties of Wheat for Australian Conditions." 



That he did succeed with this work is now evident to every one 

 connected with the wheat or milling industry. Now that time has 

 proved his success, it is fitting that some record of his work should 

 be placed before this Association, which 13 years ago listened to 

 him define his aims and how he meant to achieve them. 



Probably the most striking evidence of Farrer's success is the 

 national popularity of the wheat " Federation." It is unques- 

 tionably one of the most prolific grain varieties in cultivation, and 



