322 THE FARMERS'" HANDBOOK. 



and much stronger. The ear is white, tip-awned, long and lax, with few 

 grains (two usually) to the spikelet. The grain, which is large and yellow, 

 does not shatter, though it strips readily, and is opaque in appearance. It is 

 a very fair general-purpose wheat, though more adapted for hay on the whole 

 than for grain production. While not particularly rust resistant, it is only 

 moderately susceptible. Gresley may Declassed with Firbank, but is hardly 

 so suitable for very dry districts, though it will quite likely beat Firbank as 

 a dual-purpose variety in other localities where Firbank is grown. Yery 

 good results have been obtained with it in field areas at Cowra Experiment 

 Farm. 



Hard Federation. 



Hard Federation is a selection from Federation, and is believed to be the 

 product of a natural cross. It was first selected in the stud plots of Federation 

 at Cowra Experiment Farm in 1907 or 1908, it having been observed that 

 a single plant had threshed grain of remarkably hard and flinty appearance. 

 The plant had the distinctive brown head and general appearance of 

 Federation in the field, but the grain was of a class that had never been seen 

 in Federation before. The seed of this head was propagated, and during 

 the early years of its growth at Cowra it produced quite a proportion of 

 w 7 hite heads — so much so that when sold to farmers as Federation comment 

 was freely made on the seed that was being supplied by Cowra farm. This 

 character was gradually eliminated by selection, however, and the quality of 

 the grain created a demand for the strain, which was not named until 1914. 



In outward appearance Hard Federation much resembles Federation, but 

 the heads are less dense (the spikelets not being so closely .set together), and 

 are more full and bold looking. The plant is a more vigorous grower from 

 the start than the older type,, and it stands feeding-off well. It grows a 

 little taller than Federation and ripens a week earlier, and it stands weather 

 well without bleaching. 



Hard Federation received its name from the quality of its grain, and it is 

 in this respect that the most striking difference is seen between the two 

 varieties. Hard Federation has grain of a rather flinty appearance, and does 

 not bleach easily ; this feature, together with its superior flour qualities, has 

 brought it into favour with millers. Harvest results have shown it to be a 

 heavy yielder of grain, especially in the western and north-western portions 

 of the wheat belt, but as a rule it does not give quite as good yields as the 

 ordinary Federation in the southern districts and Riverina. 



In liability to disease Hard Federation is about on a par with Federation, 

 but its earlier maturity enables it to escape many troubles. 



Haynes' Blue-stem. 



Haynes' Blue-stem is a tall variety, stooling freely. The foliage is of 

 good colour, and the straw when ripe is white and is rather slender, 

 but very elastic. The ear is very slightly tip-bearded, and has white chaff, 

 which is covered with fine velvety hairs. The chaff is very open, and grips 

 the grain so loosely that i-t often protrudes from the glumes. The grain, 

 which is not very large, is reddish, hard and plump when grown under 

 good conditions. 



Haynes' Blue-stem is one of the varieties selected and distributed by the 

 Minnesota Experiment Station, and is also called by them " Minnesota 

 No. 169." It is considered by that station to be one of the best varieties for 



