10 



Seed Wheat. 



TABLE of Averages. 



From this average table it is possible to derive the average of all the samples, the 

 average for the State, as we may term it : 



The State average may be more conveniently stated by giving approximate figures, 

 as follows : 



These figures can easily be carried in the mind during the following discussions and 

 comparisons, all the more easily after studying Figures 12 and 20. Of course it is not 

 meant to imply by the term- State average that the above figures are exactly the average 

 that would have been obtained, if, say, ten thousand samples had been examined in the 

 same manner as this smaller number of samples. Nevertheless, it is extremely doubtful 

 if a larger number of examinations would have materially changed the figures, and this 

 justifies us in using the term, thus qualified. 



It will be noted that the various samples are described in the text as very good, good, 

 medium, poor, bad, and very bad. These words refer mainly to the size of the grains 

 composing the samples. 



Average Quality of First-class Sample. 



In order to make clearer the precise meaning to be attached to these words let us for 

 a moment consider what are the qualities of a first-class sample of wheat so far as 

 relates to the size of its grains. As the Purple Straws are largely grown let us take as 

 an example a sample of ordinary Purple Straw grain of first quality. Such a sample 

 grades up as follows : 



These figures are the result of grading three first-class samples grown in three 

 successive years, as described in the article on the grading of wheats already cited. It 

 will be observed that 86 per cent, of the grains belong to the two largest grades. 

 Experience has shown that the yield from the last four grades is less from equal numbers 

 of seeds, and that the crop is of inferior quality. Consequently any sample that graded 

 up so as to throw the bulk of its grain into these grades would be of inferior quality. 

 The sample given above may be taken as somewhere near perfection, as the plants from 

 which it was derived were picked plants. It is, however, quite safe to say that any 

 good sample of Purple Straw should throw three-fourths cf its grain into the first three 

 grades. 



