16 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 22. 



Federation was first made available to farmers in 1902. It became popular 

 immediately. By 1909 one-quarter of the area under wheat in Victoria 

 (into which State it had been introduced in 1904) was under Federation, 

 which yielded 3 to 4 bushels per acre more than other varieties. The 

 Victorian Director of Agriculture, Dr. Cherry, estimated the increased value 

 of the harvest of 1909-10, due to this wheat, as 250,000, or 1,000,000 

 bushels. 



Though a good milling wheat it is not a hard wheat, and does not produce 

 strong flour, but the strain known as Hard Federation is a distinctly strong 

 flour grain. 



Of the wheats specially created for strength of flour Bobs was the first to 

 be distributed. The original cross was made in 1896, and the type fixed and 

 named four or five years later. 



Mr. A. E. Humphries, past president of the National Association of 

 British and Irish Millers, reported of this wheat that its flour was the best 

 Australian flour he had ever handled, and compared favorably with Manitoba 

 flour. 



Comeback is a superior milling wheat to Bobs, and such a local milling 

 authority as Mr. Kahlbaum, manager of the Adelaide Milling Company, has 

 stated that its flour is better than the best imported Manitoba. 



The best of all Farrer's creations in regard to milling excellence is 

 undoubtedly Cedar. This is a hard berry of the same type as the celebrated 

 Marquis. It is an equally good milling wheat, and more suitable to local 

 conditions. At the time when the Royal Agricultural Society of New South 

 Wales awarded annually a championship prize for the best sample of wheat 

 exhibited, judged on its milling and general commercial value, this prize was, 

 after 1908, always awarded to a Farrer wheat, and after 1912 invariably to 

 Cedar. From 1908 to 1910 Bobs was the champion wheat, in 1 91 1 Comeback, 

 and from 1912 to 1915 Cedar. After 1915 this prize was eliminated from 

 the schedule. 



In the same way it has become necessary this year (1922) to make a special 

 class for the Farrer wheat, Florence, because since 1916 it has taken the first 

 prize in the medium strong flour class every year, and in most years the 

 second prize as well. 



Concerning Hard Federation, which is amongst the varieties more recently 

 selected and fixed, and which is becoming a very warm favourite with both 

 farmers and millers, the following note, quoted from the English journal 

 Milling, of 5th November, 1921, page 514, is of interest : 



THE MILLING "V'ALUK OF HARD FEDERATION. 



Reference was made in an editorial note in our last issue to the use of Australian 

 wheat varieties in the Pacific Coast area. Later information of milling and baking 

 results is equally interesting. It shows that Hard Federation, which belongs to what is 

 known as the Federation group of wheats, exceeds Early Baart, Pacific Bluestem, 

 Marquis and Kharkof in practically all the important milling and baking factors. In 

 weight per bushel it is exceeded by Kharkof, in crude protein of the wheat by Pacific 

 Bluestem, and in volume of loaf by Marquis. In all other comparisons Hard Federation 

 ranks highest. This variety has been grown commercially in Australia since 1914, and it 

 is considered it would attract buyers and bring a premium over other wheats on 

 Australian markets. 



It is interesting to note that these Federation varieties have recently become commer- 

 cially established in India. They are the most popular and prolific varieties in general 

 cultivation in Australia at the present day, where during the last six years the golden 

 yellow characteristic of old time Australian harvest-fields has been gradually changed to 

 a dull bronze through the ever-increasing popularity of Federation wheat. 



