24 CEREALS 



climate, rainfall, etc., are represented at the different 

 stations. At these stations the work includes: 



(a) Pedigree plots of the main varieties grown on the 

 farm. 



(b) Cross-bred varieties in course of fixation for local 

 conditions. 



(c) Seed variety trials, including standard varieties, 

 newly introduced wheats, and samples sent for identifica- 

 tion. 



(d) Stud bulk plots to provide seed for planting the 



(e) Farm areas, which in their turn supply seed wheat 

 to the farmers. 



In addition to the above colleges and farms there are 

 seven or eight more, at all of which (except those specially 

 established for viticulture, dairying, etc.) wheat growing 

 is carried on. 



At Cowra, where the wheat breeding is carried on 

 under the direction of Mr. J. T. Pridham (Mr. Farrer's 

 successor), the principal work now being done is the 

 cross-breeding and selection of wheats for special pur- 

 poses and different districts. Mr. Pridham was an 

 assistant to Mr. Farrer for three years, and has been in 

 his present position of plant breeder since 1911. 



During the past season he has rejected a large number 

 of crosses of inferior value, and has paid more attention 

 to selection from existing crosses than to the creation 

 of new ones. 



Attempts to secure varieties which are immune from 

 bunt have been discontinued, as it was found that though 

 highly resistant varieties had been produced, complete 

 immunity was never secured, and it has been decided to 

 rely on pickling seed-wheat, which has been found to be 

 an absolutely reliable preventive. Mr. Pridham is of the 

 opinion that with systematic selection plots and the use 

 of clean machinery the farmer will be able to dispense 

 with even this precaution. The elimination of the above 

 work has made it possible to extend the area devoted 

 to selections from crqss-breds. Fewer new crosses are 

 made, but the number of selections from each cross has 

 been increased. 



Selections are also made from field crops, for although 

 their pedigrees are unknown, they often include useful 



