Seed Wheat. 



35 



THIRD TRIAL. 



The third and most satisfactory and symmetrical set of trials as to the relative value 

 as seed of large, medium-sized, and small grains of wheat was begun in 1896. The 

 tabulated results are given below. 



The conditions under which this set of trials was conducted were in most respects very 

 similar to those of the sets already discussed. The soil, though poorer, was of the same 

 general nature, i.e., was patchy, and varied also in a gradual manner from part to part of 

 the plot. In this case, however, there was no uniformity in the gradual changes such as 

 were mentioned in the second case. It will be remembered that in the former cases the 

 soil improved in quality from one end of the plot to the other in such a manner as to 

 slightly favour in all cases the smaller grades, though the amount of this trifling advantage 

 to the smaller grades could not be measured. In the present instance, the gradual 

 variations in the soil would sometimes favour the larger grades, and sometimes the 

 smaller. As before, these differences were quite impossible to estimate, beyond the 

 general statement that they were so small as to be quite safely neglected, considering the 

 extent of the trials. 



In this third set of quantitive trials th_ amount of seed available was greater, and, in 

 consequence, the size of the trial rows was increased, and the length in all cases, exclusive 

 of the buffer plants at the ends, was two chains. 



Only four grades of seed were used, extra large, i.e., grade 325 ; large, i.e., grade 300 ; 

 medium, i.e., grade 250 ; and small, i.e., the tailings. These were in all instances planted 

 in the order named in three or four successive rows, at the ends of the corresponding 

 "stud plots" devoted to the production of seed wheat. This was a more satisfactory 

 arrangement than that of the previous year. It can hardly be said, however, that this 

 arrangement introduced any new element as compared with the first two trials, except 

 that of omitting the use of the intermediate grades 275, 225, and 200. 



The season was regarded as an average one ; not so good as the previous season. 



TABLE of Yields of Grain and Straw. (Third Trial. ) 



Algerian. 



