TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION M. 661 
In the initiatory stages of new races it becomes, therefore, impracticable with 
any certainty to extract the most productive races from those originated by 
artificial crossing by the merely empirical methods hitherto adopted. 
The paper described the methods adopted in collaboration with Professor 
Biffen, and, in respect of the biometrical data obtained, with Mr. W. E. Gosset, 
and gave a summary of the conclusions arrived at from the experiments of the 
last five years; more particularly as to the value for selection purposes of accu- 
rate determination of the relative seed-forming energy as shown by the ‘co- 
efficient of migration ’ of different races of barley. 
2. Wheat Improvement in Australia. By ¥. B. GuTurie, LO. 
Part I. 
Early inter-State action with regard to the study of wheat and its diseases 
was reviewed, and it was shown how the original scheme developed. 
The work of private individuals, working before State action was 
inaugurated, was discussed, and in particular the present position of the Farrer 
wheats was dealt with. 
The special qualities looked for in wheats to be grown under Australian con- 
ditions were grouped under the following heads :— 
(1) Resistance to rust and other diseases. 
(2) Prolificness. 
(3) Drought resistance. 
(4) Milling quality. 
(5) Wheats for hay. 
(6) Wheats for different districts and climates. 
It was shown how the interpretation placed on the above terms in Australia 
differs from that which obtains in other countries on account of the differing 
conditions; for example, wheats which resist rust locally succumb to this disease 
when grown in other parts of the world; some of the most prolific HKuropean 
varieties are very poor yielders when grown locally, &c. 
The characteristics enumerated above were next considered more in detail. 
(1) Resistance to Rust, &c.—The principal workers on this subject were 
referred to. The point was noted that the nature and life-history of rust were 
different in Australia. The question of rust-escaping by quick maturing was 
dealt with, and the damage done by rust in Australia, especially in the coastal 
districts, was discussed. 
Remarks followed on some rust-resistant wheats. 
(2) Prolificness.—The importance of this quality from a farmer’s point of 
view. In the older wheats prolificness was very frequently associated with 
inferiority in other respects. The smallness of local yields was considered in 
comparison with other countries. The characteristics required in a prolific 
wheat were reviewed and some successful new varieties described. 
(3) Drought Resistance.—It was shown that this property is of the greatest 
local importance in view of the extension of wheat-growing into drier areas. 
The characteristics to be looked for in dry country wheats were discussed, and 
some successful new varieties described. 
(4) Milling Qualities.—The different requirements of English and Australian 
millers were referred to, and the characteristics of a good milling wheat for 
Australian conditions discussed. The export and internal trade were reviewed, 
and it was shown that there is a steady improvement in the quality of our 
locally grown wheat. Notes followed on some of our best-milling wheats. 
Part II. 
The work done in the individual States in the improvement of wheat was 
reviewed under the following headings :— 
(1) Work done by individual investigators. 
(2) Work carried out at institutions under departmental control. 
(3) Action taken by the different States in furtherance of the object of 
improving wheats. 
