CEREALS 41 



recently carried out by Mr. E. A. Mann, the Government 

 Analyst (who is in charge of the testing mill), in con- 

 junction with Mr. Grasby, on the effect of manuring on 

 the milling quality of the wheat. The results obtained 

 would seem to indicate that the addition of potash and, 

 in a lesser degree, of lime to the crop increases both the 

 gluten content and also the water-absorbing power of 

 the flour obtained. 



Of the experiment farms under the control of the 

 Department of Agriculture, those at Nangeenen, Chap- 

 man, Narrogin, and Merridin are especially devoted to 

 wheat culture. 



(5) QUEENSLAND. 



The Agricultural College at Gatton and the State 

 Farms at Roma, Hermitage, and Gindie are all engaged 

 in wheat culture, the farms at Roma and Hermitage being 

 more particularly devoted to wheat production. At these 

 farms variety tests, manurial trials, and seed-wheat plots 

 are all in operation, and seed-wheat true to type is grown 

 to supply farmers. 



The late manager of the Roma State Farm, Mr. 

 R. Soutter, now devotes himself exclusively to work in 

 cross-fertilizing. In all the wheat-growing districts of 

 Queensland farmers' experiment plots have been estab- 

 lished, in which variety tests and manurial trials are 

 carried on. 



There is also a small model wheat-testing mill in 

 operation under the charge of the chemist, Mr. J. C. 

 Briinnich, on which small parcels of wheat can be milled 

 and the flour tested and baked. 



It will thus be seen that Queensland, though not a 

 wheat State, has not neglected to provide facilities for 

 the improvement of this cereal. Of individual wheat 

 breeders who have produced wheats of lasting value I am 

 unable to find any record. The names of Dr. Bancroft, 

 Mr. F. M. Bailey (the Queensland Government Botanist), 

 and Mr. Steiger are well known for their work on wheat 

 diseases (particularly rust) in the late 'seventies and early 

 'eighties. Dr. Bancroft in particular imported and tested 

 a great variety of wheats from other countries with the 



