IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEATS. 539 



cool south-east, on the light sandy soils of the Pinaroo and Loxton 

 country, and on the heavier soils of the Salisbury plains, we find 

 ' Federation ' taking premier place amongst our varieties.' 



In the South Australian variety trials in eight out of nine 

 localities " Federation " had first place, being beaten in the other 

 by its half-sister " Yandilla King." 



From a popular standpoint " Federation " is considered to be 

 Farrer's greatest success ; but it is by no means the only one of 

 his productions that have proved successful. Other well-known 

 varieties now in general cultivation are " Bunyip," " Bobs," 

 ^' Cleveland," " Comeback," " Jonathan " and " Thew." 



Early last year a conference of the officers of the New South 

 Wales Department of Agriculture, who were specially interested 

 in the cultivation of wheat, was held at the Wagga Experiment 

 Farm. This conference selected a number (17) of varieties of 

 wheat which could be recommended to the farmers as being most 

 prolific and otherwise suitable for the various farm and agricul- 

 tural requirements of this State. No variety was included in the 

 list of those selected, unless by actual trials under farmers' con- 

 ditions it had proved consistently prolific, nor unless it was 

 capable of producing flour of a certain standard strength. Twelve 

 out of the seventeen varieties selected were Farrer's productions. 

 This carries its own evidence of Farrer's success. 



In 1909, under the supervision of the N.S.W. Department of 

 Agriculture, 43 trials with varieties of wheat were undertaken 

 by farmers in all parts of the State. To undertake this work 

 indicates that these men were progressive. That nine of them 

 were growing only Farrer varieties is therefore further proof 

 of his success. The other 34 experimenters tried an old favourite 

 in comparison with the Departmental productions. In 32 of the 

 34 trials the farmers' selection was beaten by one or more of the 

 new wheats. This is additional proof of their success. 



In his paper read before this Association Farrer defined his 

 aims as being the production of wheat specially suitable for our 

 peculiar climatic conditions, which should also be {a) of greater 

 milling value than the old varieties, and (&) more resistant to rust. 

 He required something more than to produce a prolific variety. 

 His ideals were high. Perfection was his goal, though he recog- 

 nised this as being unattainable. Each success gave him some- 

 thing more to aspire to, and rendered perfection still beyond his 

 reach. It is fortunate for Australia that his ideals were lofty. 

 To breed a wheat with no other recommendation than, that in a 

 normal season it would yield well would have been comparatively 

 easy, and would have quickly earned for him an enviable repu- 

 tation. Such a poMcy was, however, too small and shortsighted 

 for a man of his mental calibre. 



As the result of his forethought Australia now grows a strong, 

 as well as a white, wheat, and she need not fear the disastrous 

 effect of the ravages of a rusty season, as she did before Farrer's 

 success was acliieved and his aims were realised. 



