CHAPTER IV 

 The OniGiiir of Eed Bobs and Kitchener 



I. Introduction 



One of the most promising competitors of Marquis is 

 Red Bobs wliich was selected by Mr. Seager Wheeler at 

 Rosthern, Saskatchewan, in 1910, from an Australian 

 wheat called Bohs. Since Red Bobs is now being widely 

 distributed among the farmers of western Canada and is 

 being tested at various experimental farms and stations, a 

 history of its origin is well worth recording. 



II. Origin of Bohs 

 William Farrer ^ was a leading wheat-breeder in Aus- 



1 The following quotation from an article by A. E. V. Richardson, 

 the Agricultural Superintendent of the Victoria Department of Ag- 

 riculture, is of interest in throwing light upon Farrer's work: 



" The outstanding feature in wheat-breeding work in Australia ia 

 the remarkable success achieved by that patient and retiring genius, 

 the late William Farrer, of New South Wales, in every branch of 

 wheat improvement. 



" A man who could set out as clearly and comprehensively as 

 Farrer (Farrer, The making and improvement of new varieties of 

 wheat for Australian conditions. Agricultural Gazette, N. S. W., 

 Feb., 1898 ) , both as regards the goal toward which he was striving 

 in his work of wheat improvement, and the methods whereby he 

 hoped to reach that goal, and in leas than a decade flood the market 

 with varieties like Federation the moat prolific and popular farm- 

 er's wheat in the Commonwealth; Bobs and Comeback of unsur- 

 passed milling excellence; Florence and Genoa bunt-resisting va- 

 rieties; and a host of others enjoying a widespread popularity, such 

 as Bunyip, Thew, Bayah, Warren, Genoa, Firhank, Cleveland, Cedar, 

 Jonathan, etc., must have possessed in an unusual degree the insight 

 of genius. It is no exaggeration to say that Farrer has added mil- 



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