WHEAT IMPROVEMENT IN AUSTRALIA. 15 



PAET II. 



Work done in the Improvement of Wheats in the different States, 



NEW SOUTH WALES. 



Departmental Action. 



Wheat experiments are conducted at Cowra (the headquarters for wheat- 

 breeding), Hawkesbury Agricultural College (representing the coastal 

 districts), Wagga (representing the Riverina, the principal wheat-producing 

 district of the State), Bathurst (Central Tablelands), Glen Innes (Northern 

 Tablelands), Nyngan and Coonamble (dry western country), and Yanco 

 (under irrigation). 



It will thus be seen that the varying conditions as to climate, rainfall, &c., 

 are represented at the different stations. At these stations the work 

 includes : 



(a) Pedigree plots of the main varieties grown on the farm; 



(Z>) Cross-bred varieties in course of fixation for local conditions; 



(c) " Seed variety trials," including standard varieties, newly introduced 

 wheats, and samples sent for identification; 



(d) " Stud bulk plots " to provide seed for planting the 



(e) " Farm areas," which in their turn supply seed- wheat to the farmers. 



In addition to the above colleges and farms, there are seven or eight more, 

 at all of which (except those specially established for viticulture, dairying, 

 &c.) wheat-growing is carried on. 



At Cowra, where the wheat-breeding is carried on under the direction of 

 Mr. J. T. Pridham (Mr. Farrer's successor), the principal work now being 

 done is the cross-breeding and selection of wheats* for special purposes 

 and different districts. Mr. Pridham was an assistant to Mr. Farrer for 

 three years, and has been in his present position of plant-breeder since 1911. 



During the past season he has rejected a large number of crosses of 

 inferior value, and has paid more attention to selection from existing crosses 

 than to the creation of new ones. 



Attempts to secure varieties which are immune from bunt have been 

 discontinued, as it was found that though highly resistant varieties had been 

 produced, complete immunity was never secured, and it has been decided 

 to rely on pickling seed-wheat, which has been found to be an absolutely 

 reliable preventive. Mr. Pridham is of the opinion that with systematic 



