Seed Wheat. 55 



CONCLUSIONS. 



1. Under field conditions, small and shrivelled wheat-grains do not 

 appear to germinate so abundantly or so strongly as large and plump 

 grains. This defect of small and shrivelled grains appears to be 

 inherent in the grains themselves, and is independent of the season. 



2. Under field conditions the plant-producing power of small and 

 shrivelled grains is much below that of large and plump grains. This 

 property is displayed independently of the season. 



3. No matter what the nature of the season, the yield from large 

 and plump seed is always greater than that from equal numbers of 

 smaller and shrivelled seed, if the two crops be grown under similar 

 conditions. This applies to the yield of both grain and straw. 



4. Apart from the weight of the crop yielded, which is always in 

 favour of the large seeds, the quality of the yield is decidedly better 

 in the case of the plants grown from large and plump seeds, that is to 

 say, the grain yielded from large seed is larger and plumper, and the 

 weight per bushel is greater, and this difference is such as to decidedly 

 affect the market value. 



5. The superior yield from large and plump grain is sufficiently pro- 

 nounced to justify the cost of first-class cleaning of ordinary wheat for 

 seed purposes, and the amount so expended may, without loss to the 

 grower, go in all ordinary cases as high as 10 per cent, of the value of 

 his yield per acre. Allowing his average yield per acre to be ten 

 bushels, and the average value of his wheat to be 2s. 6d. per bushel, and 

 his average quantity of seed per acre to be one bushel, the grower may 

 safely spend 2s. 6d. per bushel in grading his wheat for seed. It 

 seems probable that the maximum of profit will result from that 

 amount of grading that can be done with good machinery for about 

 6d. per bushel. While the yield per acre will be increased by all the 

 additional grading and cleaning up to a cost of 2s. 6d. per bushel, the 

 profit will not be in proportion, and may cease altogether at the grade 

 of seed produced by the expenditure of 2s. 6d. per bushel. 



This conclusion is drawn up on the basis of the yield of grain alone, 

 for the reason that the basis of previous discussions on the subject 

 have been the yield of grain. If the value of the straw be added to 

 that of the grain then the amount of money that can profitably be 

 spent in grading seed-wheat is somewhat increased. Grading for hay 

 is just as profitable as for grain. 



6. Allowing the liberal sum of 20 as the price of a seed grader 

 suitable for farm use, and allowing the life of the machine to be 

 twenty years, and allowing 10 per cent, for insurance, interest, and 

 repairs, the regular cultivation of 50 acres of wheat will justify the 

 purchase of such a grader. 



7. If the grower does not care to encumber himself with grading 

 machinery, the money that would be thus invested may be profitably 

 spent in having his seed wheat prepared by any miller who has 

 suitable machinery, the cost of such cleaning or preparation usually 

 costing not more than 6d. per bushel at the mill, and very often 

 much less. 



