WHEAJ IMPROVEMENT IN AUSTEALIA. 23 



method of selection with yields obtained from the same varieties unselected. 

 This comparison shows a striking increase in acre-yields in favour of the 

 selected seed; in some cases this increase is nearly 13 bushels, and is never 

 less than 3| bushels above the unselected seed. 



These and other experiments justify Mr. Richardson, who is in charge of 

 this work, in anticipating that the adoption of this system will make it 

 possible to increase the prolincness of the standard varieties by at least 

 20 to 25 per cent. The production of new varieties by cross-breeding is 

 being carried out at the three departmental stations referred to. The result 

 of last year's tests at Rutlierglen in small plots proved that a number of 

 fourth generation cross-breds give yields as high as 45 J bushels to the acre, 

 as against 32 bushels from the check-plots (Federation). 



Two new varieties of particular promise have been obtained by crossing 

 Federation with Indian F (a beardless, compact, early-maturing type 

 obtained from Pusa). At Longerenong these wheats matured ten days to a 

 fortnight earlier than Federation, and gave from 28 to 37 per cent, increased 

 yields. A large number of crosses have been made between standard 

 Australian varieties with Manitoba and with Russian hard red wheats, but 

 so far without any notable success. 



The object kept chiefly in view in the creation of these new varieties is 

 that which Mr. Farrer set before himself, namely, the production of a wheat 

 which shall be at the same time prolific and one of high milling excellence. 

 In the pursuance of this object the experimental flour mill and electric 

 baking oven are of considerable assistance. 



SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 



South Australia was the first of the States to undertake the systematic 

 improvement of wheats, and the first Australian wheat-breeders belong to 

 this State. 



In 1881 the late Dr. Schomburgh, Director of the Botanic Gardens, 

 Adelaide, supplied a few farmers in South Australia with samples of 

 Du Toits, a variety of wheat grown in South Africa. One of these farmers, 

 Mr. Ward (now resident at Port Pirie), observed a single rust-free plant in 

 a crop that was otherwise eaten up with rust. From this plant was produced 

 the wheat known as " Ward's Rust-proof," or " Ward's Prolific," a variety 

 which has probably played a more important part than any other single 

 variety in the improvement of wheat in Australia. For Ward's Prolific is 

 not only a rust-resistant and highly prolific variety, thus enabling many 

 farmers to carry on wheat-growing at a time when the prevalence of rust 

 threatened to destroy the industry, but it is the parent of all the principal 

 varieties that made wheat-growing profitable in South Australia, many of 

 which have proved of even greater value than the parent wheat, and are 

 strong favourites in the other States. 



