20 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 11. 



of years, the seed used each year being hand-selected from the plot of the 

 preceding year. The area is 5 acres ; the ground must be clean or after long 

 fallow, the seed graded and of a variety selected by the Department. The 

 standing crop is cleaned as far as possible by hand-picking of wild oats, 

 strange heads, &c. The award is made according to a scale of marks given 

 for yield, purity of type, freedom from disease, bushel-weight and general 

 appearance. This scheme offers a strong incentive to the farmer to improve 

 the quality of his seed-wheat, and helps him to do so by systematic methods. 



The selection of seed to raise " stud plots " for the coming season by 

 individual farmers as distinguished from the above-mentioned bureau scheme, 

 is also encouraged by the Department. 



The milling of wheats on a small mill and the testing of flour has been 

 carried on in New South Wales since 1895. This has also been a factor in 

 the improvement of wheat, in that it has enabled the breeder and grower 

 to avoid the propagation of inferior grain and to improve local wheats in 

 respect to milling excellence. The Department is also represented on the 

 Grain Trade Section of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce, part of the 

 activity of which body is to strike the standard of quality for shipping (the 

 F.A.Q., or fair average quality standard). 



For many years the Department's mill has been utilised for the purpose 

 of awarding the prizes in the wheat section of the Royal Agricultural 

 Society's Show, the prizes being finally awarded to those wheats which give 

 the best milling results. 



VICTORIA. 



Departmental action. 



Systematic work in the improvement of wheats by selection combined with 

 cross-breeding is carried out at the Government Experiment Farms and 

 Stations at Dookie, Longerenong, Rutherglen, Wyuna and more recently at 

 the Werribee Research Station. Standard varieties are also grown for seed 

 purposes in " stud plots " for distribution as seed- wheat to farmers. An 

 experimental flour-mill is in operation, on which new varieties can be tested 

 for their milling qualities and the flour tested and baked into loaves. This 

 is under the charge of Mr. A. E. Richardson, Superintendent of Agriculture. 

 The mill is also made use of in judging the wheats competing at the Mel- 

 bourne Royal Agricultural Show. 



THE WORK AT DOOKIE. 



The work at Dookie has been the most prolific of results in the production 

 of improved varieties, and a short description of some of the wheats created 

 by Mr. Pye will serve to show the nature of the work accomplished. 



Mr. Hugh Pye, now Principal of Dookie Agricultural College, Victoria, 

 was among the first to take up the systematic study of wheat with a view 

 to its improvement. 



