56 Seed Wheat. 



8. Considering the healthy and exceptionally good condition of the 

 tailings and smaller grades of seed used in these trials it seems impos- 

 sible to avoid the conclusion that the inferiority here shown to exist in 

 them is not so great as that actually existing in ordinary tailings, the 

 use of which as seed has been advocated. 



9. The foregoing conclusions apply to such land as that used for 

 wheat in the Riverina district, and other important wheat areas of a 

 similar character in various parts of Australia. 



10. Thft advantages of large, plump, graded seed are that 



It is likely to be healthier seed, and therefore more likely to pro- 

 duce healthy plants. 



It can be sown more evenly because of its uniform size. 



There is a larger percentage of growth, and fewer failures. 



The plants from such seeds are larger and thriftier and more 

 resistant to disease, drought, and starvation. 



The crops from such seed have a more even growth, and are more 

 economical to harvest and thresh. 



The yield per plant, both of grain and straw, is greater from such seed. 



The crop of grain grown from such seed has a higher market 

 value because^ (a) It contains more large grains and fewer 

 small grains, (b) It is plumper and better looking, (c) It 

 weighs more per bushel. 



The continuous use of such seed tends towards a general improve- 

 ment in the quality of wheat. 



The above list of conclusions are not the only deductions that may 

 be made from the experiment tables. For example, the column of 

 observations headed " Number of Plants that Grew " has been left as 

 a bare statement of facts. It is obvious that a lengthy series of 

 calculations can be made with the object of showing the relation of 

 this column to the yield columns. From the general percentages of 

 growth it would be possible to derive a factor which, when applied to 

 the " Plants that Grew " column, would enable us to formulate a 

 correction for the yield column that would tend to eliminate the 

 accident element that exists in the yield column. As, however, through 

 the very cordial co-operation of all the officers concerned, the experi- 

 ments were under the most careful protection, and, furthermore, were 

 blessed with good fortune in the field, there was very little accident 

 of an obvious nature. The " soil mysteries " also were so' evenly 

 distributed as to give very little uneasiness. For these reasons it has 

 not seemed to me worth while at present to make these corrections, it 

 being rather an unnecessary refinement in this case. 



It will be noted that as one goes up the scale of grades the increase 

 in yield is a diminishing function. This fact might be presented in 

 the form of a curve a sort of " curve of profit " from grading but 

 I have not made the necessary calculations. 



There is room, too, for deductions as to the effect of different seasons 

 on the behaviour of various grades of seed, and for a number of other 

 deductions, but for the present these are left to the ingenuity of the 

 .studious reader. 



