WHEAT. 247 



Phosphatic fertilisers stimulate root-growth, hasten 

 maturity, and, therefore, assist in combating rust, cause the 

 grain to fill out well and, consequently, make for increased 

 production. 



Potash fertilisers have not proved beneficial, except in 

 small quantities, in the south-west Cape. 



The fertiliser is generally applied at the time of seeding 

 by means of the combined seed and fertiliser drills, or else by 

 hand. Where wheat is grown under irrigation, the use of 

 well-rotted kraal manure, about four wagon-loads to the acre, 

 often gives excellent results, when used with light dressings 

 of phosphatic fertilisers. 



Seed. — The following score-card for seed wheat may be 

 employed in judging the merits of samples : — 



100 



(1) Gerrnination. — A high percentage of viable seed, 

 having good vitality, is indicated by brightness of the grain 

 and fullness of the embryo. Old seed usually has a dull 

 appearance, and a dark and streaked embryo. Sprouted 

 grain should be looked for and discriminated against. 

 Repeated germination of the same kernel is possible, but 

 the vitality is much impaired. 



(2) Seed and Plumpness . — Within the variety the seed 

 should be as large and plump as possible ; this ensures a 

 healthy seedling and an uniform stand. A number of experi- 

 ments have been conducted, often poorly from an experimental 

 point of view, but the results point conclusively to the advis- 

 ability of using large plump kernels for planting. Bolley has 

 shown fairly definitely that shrunken kernels are very often 

 diseased, and, moreover, transmit the disease to the next 

 generation. 



