WHEAT IMPROVEMENT IN AUSTRALIA. 



their good acre-yield possessed or developed objectionable qualities, such as 

 being liable to rust or affected by dry spells or of poor milling quality. 



In discussing the question of prolificness it is important to remember 

 that this term also possesses a significance very different to that which it 

 has in Europe. 



Harvests of 50 to GO bushels to the acre are unknown on the Australian 

 continent. The highest individual yield of which I can find any record 

 as being obtained from a reasonable area is one of 43 bushels given by a 

 new Victorian variety, Commonwealth; see page 21. 



The average yields per acre for the past five harvests in the individual 

 States are as follow: 



It is to be noted that the Australian harvest is gathered between November 

 and January, so that the figures for 1908-1909 give the harvest of November 

 or December, 1908, and January, 1909, and represent the grain available 

 for 1909. 



With the exception of Tasmania, where the area under wheat is very 

 small, and which has little effect on the Commonwealth figures, the average 

 yield for any State rarely exceeds 14 bushels, and is a low one in comparison 

 with most other wheat-producing countries. 



The character of prolificness being one that appeals strongly to the 

 farmer, it is natural that a considerable number of " improved " wheats are 

 constantly being produced by the farmers themselves. These are in nearly 

 all cases obtained by selecting grain from the standing crop and sowing it 

 separately. Many of these wheats enjoy local favour, but as a rule the 

 prolific character is not retained for more than two or three seasons, or 

 after the wheat leaves the hands of the original selector, and these wheats 

 will not be noticed here. 



As a large and increasing proportion of our wheat area is in districts with 

 a comparatively low rainfall, the question of prolificness is closely bound 

 up with that of drought resistance. 



Mr. H. Pye,* the Principal of Dookie Agricultural College, Victoria, 



* Report of the Principal, Dookie Agricultural College, Victoria, for the year 

 ending 81st July, 1909. 



