254 THE FARMERS HANDBOOK. 



its crop late. Hence, to sow an " early " wheat at the beginning of the 

 sowing season is literally to make an attempt to produce wheat in the middle 

 of winter, and to sow a " late " wheat at the end of the sowing season is to 

 look for a grain crop in the height of summer. The quick-growing habit of 

 the first kind will bring it into head at a time when, even if other conditions 

 are favourable, frost is almost sure to prevent the maturing of grain, and 

 the slow-growing habit of the second kind will produce the ear at a time 

 when extreme heat will be just as disastrous. 



If it is remembered that " early wheats " are early in maturing, and " late 

 wheats " are late in maturing, the whole problem is solved, and there is 

 no possibility of mistakes being made in the future. 



Sow " early " wheats last, and " late " wheats first. 



VARIETIES FOR VARIOUS DISTRICTS AND PURPOSES.* 



As the foregoing pages have amply indicated, the purposes for which wheat 

 may be grown differ considerably, just as do the districts and conditions. 

 No variety is suitable for all purposes or all districts, and the farmer must 

 therefore select the variety he is going to sow with careful regard for his 

 object as- well as his conditions. The production of grain in the Riverina, 

 for instance, is a very different matter from wheaten hay in hot western 

 districts or green fodder on the coast. 



In the following arrangement of districts the varieties are named that are 

 most suitable for each purpose, and also the time when they should be sown. 

 The farmer will do well to follow these recommendations with care. 



Varieties According to Maturity and Sowing. 



For the guidance of growers it will be convenient first to classify the best 

 wheats in respect of maturity, though slight differences in various districts 

 may be expected : — 



Very Early. — Sunset. 



Early. — Clarendon, Florence, Firbank, Canberra, Thew, Improved Stein- 



wedel. 



(These should usually be sown late.) 



Mid-season. — Hard Federation, Genoa, Warren, Bomen, Federation, Gres- 

 ley. 



(These should usually be sown in mid-season.) 

 Late.— Marshall's No. 3, Yandilla King, Warden, Zealand, Cleveland, 

 Huguenot. 



(These should be sown early.) 



The Department's Recommendations. 



The wheats recommended by the Department for various purposes may 1)0 

 grouped in districts as follow : — 



Coastal Districts. 

 [Embracing those districts bordering on the coast, and which are specially 



subject to rust.] 

 For Hay — 



Clarendon, Florence, Firbank, Thew (early maturing varieties) ; 

 Warren (mid-season maturing) ; 

 Cleveland (late maturing). 



♦ Detailed descriptions of the varieties recommended in this classification will be 

 found beginning on page 311. 



