FSRM CROPS OF CAN AD A IN .1001 43 



have them tested side by side on uniform land, such as we get at Indian Head and 

 Brandon. 



Then also it is very important to find out the relative earliness of the different 

 sorts, and there are some districts in Saskatchewan where farmers would rather grow 

 Preston even if it graded a point lower than Red Fife, because it comes in four days 

 earlier and thus gives them a better chance of harvesting the crop. None of these 

 wheats are in any way taking the place of Red Fife, nor is it our wish or desire they 

 should, unless it can be shown they are quite equal to Red I'ife in point of quality as 

 well as productiveness. That will take a little while to work out, in the meantime I 

 desire it to be distinctly understood that no one advocates the growing of Red Fife 

 wheat more than I do, and I doubt if there is any one in the Dominion who has done as 

 much to encourage its growth and maintain its purity. 



By Mr. Robinson {Elgin) : 



Q. Is it not a fact that all wheat deteriorates and that the Red Fife may deter- 

 iorate ? 



A. That is quite true. Every kernel of wheat is self fertilized, and where self fer- 

 tilization is carried on for an indefinite time there is apt to be deterioration. We find 

 its takes place very quickly with cattle, but not as rapidly with wheat and other cereals, 

 but how long the Red Fife will continue to maintain its present high standard no one 

 can say. I think it is the duty of a government institution such as ours to be ready 

 with other varieties in case the Red Fife, should fail. 



By Mr. Wriglit : 



Q. Does not that tendency run in all grain, and not in grain only but in roots. 

 For instance, potatoes run out more quickly than grains do. 



A. That ia true. I do not think we have now in cultivation a single variety of 

 potato that was grown fifty years ago, and probably not one that dates back farther 

 tthan thirty years ago. 



By Mr. Eohinson (Elgin) : 



Q. Then it will be quite in order for you to keep on experimenting in that way 

 and getting new varieties ? 



A. 1 think quite in order. We want to aim at getting new wheats as good "as any 

 varieties now known. We want something as productive or more so, and we want to 

 aim at the production of varieties which will be early in ripening and have greater 

 freedom from ru^t. 



By Mr. Boyd : 



Q. I think the change on the new soil in the west will tend to keep up the strength 

 of the wheat ? 



A. I think perhaps it will, but that is only an opinion. We know that Red Fife 

 taken from Ontario has done better in the west than it has here. 



Q. We find by the change of seed from old land to the new land and back from 

 the new land to the old land, that we can keep it up so as long as we have the new land, 

 and wish to put the wheat there, and change back, we can thus keep the varieties strong. 

 It may be a generation before it goes back. 



A. It may be several generations, but there is little doubt that the time will come, 

 and when it does, we want to be ready for the emergency. Then there are other parts of 

 tlie Dominion where Red Fife is not so successfully grown. In parts of Quebec, we find 



