WHEAT CULTURE. 259 



broughl to the Department from Temora district to sho^ how Federation 



had deteriorated, and it was subjected to comparison with a Departmental 

 -ample of the same variety several years old that was available, and with a 

 sample oJ Federation of that season's growth on one of the experiment farms. 

 It was found that the old sample was distinctly better than the farmer's 

 sample, and that the modern sample was best of all. Here, then, were three 

 Federations — one showing the quality sold to farmers by the Department 

 rs before for seed purposes, a second showing how the variety had deterio- 

 rated in farmers' hands, and a third showing the improvement effected by 

 selection in the hands of the Department. 



Good as they may be to-day, neglect would allow even such varieties as 

 Hard Federation and Canberra gradually to lose favour. 



The system of plant improvement that has been in operation at the experi- 

 ment farm-, in the wheat belt consists of the selection for its outstanding 

 qualities of a single plant of the different varieties grown. The seed from 

 this plant is then sown in a single row, which can be inspected and undesir- 

 able plants discarded; the grain from that row is again sown by itself until 

 sufficient seed has been produced from the single plant to enable a larger area 

 to be sown on the farm, whence it is distributed to farmers for use in their 

 paddocks and very often in farmers' experiment plots. 



Xot only is seed of greater purity obtained in this way, but also a strain 

 of greater stamina and productiveness. The farmer garners the good seed 

 with the bad, and does it year after year, but the above system (which is 

 really not beyond the capacity of any farmer himself) ensures improvement 

 rather than decline. 



It is not necessary for the farmer to undertake the selection of a single 

 plant every year and from it to raise seed for future use. He has neither 

 the time nor the necessary knowledge for such work. What is suggested is 

 that when a farmer finds his favourite variety is not yielding up to his 

 expectations, he should obtain a few bushels of stud seed from the 

 experiment farm nearest him, and from it propagate seed that can be sown 

 on the fa ran area the following year. Such seed will retain its stamina for 

 several seasons, when it may be time for another recourse to the experiment 

 farm. 



The Value of Graded Seed. 



li is very important that only graded seed be used. Grading not only 

 removes wild oats and other foreign seeds, but also ensures uniformity. If 

 the size of the seed is uneven the sowing will be uneven, inasmuch as the 

 grain will not run evenly through the cups of the drill. 



It must not be imagined that because small grains are sown, weak or poor 

 plants will necessarily result. As a matter of fact, if the smallness of the 

 grain is due to adverse weather conditions during growth, no harm is done 

 — indeed, the crop may be a vigorous one. But if the smallness of the 

 grain is due to the parent plant having been weak or diseased, it is obvious 

 that a good strain cannot result. 



In order to be on the safe side, therefore, the Department would urge 

 upon farmers thoroughly to grade their seed before sowing. 



Various types of graders are on the market, but it will generally lie found 

 that the type equipped with the cylinder and perforated screens is the most 

 efficient, and for all practical purposes the single-cylinder machine is the 

 most convenient. For small quantities of up to, say, 250 or 300 bushels, a 

 baud machine will admirably answer the purpose, but for larger quantities 

 of wheat it is advisable to drive the grader with a small power engine. 



