1221 



Triticum aestivum L. (Poaceae.) 45145. Wheat seeds 

 from Sydney, Australia. Presented by Mr. George Val- 

 der, Under Secretary and Director, Department of Ag- 

 riculture. "Florence. It was noticed that during the 

 1916-1917 season, when a great deal of rust was ex- 

 perienced all over this State, Florence proved more 

 rust-resistant than any of the other varieties sent." 

 (Valder.) A very early wheat used for both grain and 

 hay in New South Wales. 



Notes from Correspondents Abroad. 



Extract from letter dated April 30, 1917, from 

 Mr. H. R. Wright, Avondale, Auckland, New Zealand: 



"Amongst the apples I forwarded last season is 

 one called Willie Sharp. This apple is a first-class 

 variety for a stock, as it roots very freely. The 

 method of raising them: first, root graft some cut- 

 tings; the following season, that is, when they are 

 one year old, cut down to the ground and they will 

 shoot up bushy, and as soon as the shoots get a few 

 inches high start to earth up and they will then root 

 out of the sides. The following winter , pull the mould- 

 ing down and cut off just below the collar of fibrous 

 roots. These you plant out in nursery rows to grow 

 into trees, or bud other varieties on to them. 



This is what we call the stool system, and is 

 fast becoming the recognized method of raising aphis- 

 resisting stocks. Once you get some plants on their 

 own roots you can select some of the strongest roots, 

 cut into pieces about 2| inches long, then nick out a 

 line about the same depth with a spade and plant about 

 one inch apart, just covering the top of the root and 

 no more. The following season lift and plant out for 

 stools . 



When planting out stools, plant about one foot 

 apart, with about four feet between the rows. This 

 will give you plenty of room to use a celery moulder 

 to earth up. It must be borne in mind with the stool 

 system through continually cutting them back to the 

 ground they increase in the number of plants you take 

 off each year. Only aphis-resistant stocks are used 

 both in Australia and New Zealand." 



