FARM CKOPS- OFCAifADA IK 1901 53 



ing Speltz wlieat with the Colorado. The Speltz holds the grain so tight in the chaff that 

 you cannot separate it without some difficultj% while the Colorado holds it so lightly 

 that it drops out on the field ; so, while the Colorado is otherwise a good wheat for 

 the eastern farmer, its usefulness is much interfered with by this tendency to shed 

 the grain in the field. The object in these experiments is to obtain a wheat which 

 will have the power of holding the grain tightly in the chaff when cut, so as to avoid 

 waste. Another object in view in making these crosses is to obtain varieties of wheat 

 which will be less affected by rust. Both Speltz and Goose wheats are remarkably free 

 from rust, and if we can by crossing, introduce into these wheats some of the qualities 

 of the Red Pife, the value of the product would be much increased. Such government 

 institutions as the experimental farms are the places where such important lines of 

 work as these should be carried on. The farmer or average experimenter, with 

 limited appliances in the way of area of land in which to sow these things, cannot 

 .conduct such experiments in any large way, and it is, I think, the duty of the state 

 to look ahead in such matters and endeavour by constant experimentation, to produce 

 new varieties likely to be of value to the country. We know the good qualities of Cer- 

 tain varieties, we also know their faults. If we can by intermixing produce neW'SOJts 

 which will retain most of the good qualities of both parents, and less of the faults, 

 a great step in advance has been made. We have not' yet reached perfection in regard 

 to the varieties of cereals we cultivate, what we want in a wheat is a variety as good 

 in quality as Red Fife, and as -productive, or more so, earlier in ripening, and a rust 

 resisting sort. If we can produce a wheat combining these good qualities it would 

 be of great value to the country, and any inrprovement we can make is a step in the 

 right direction. All such investigation work should be encouraged. 



Another very interesting and curious cross that we have produced is one between 

 Red Fife and a wheat called Polonian. This Polonian wheat has a very large kernel, 

 about three or four times the size of ordinary wheat. It is grown in Algiers and 

 Egypt and some other countries in Europe, and produces, it is said, good crops there, 

 but with us it has been a poor cropper. It does not seem to set well and the number 

 of kernels in the head is much less than one would expect from its size and appearance. 

 A single plant was grown last year from a kernel, the result of this cross, and it pro- 

 duced heads which were quite unlike Red Fife. The kernels also were considerably 

 larger. The further development of this grain will be watched with much interest. 

 The size of the kernel and the weight of the head are promising features in this new 

 cross. 



By Mr. Robinson (Elgin) : 



Q. Have you named this new cross ? 



A. No, not yet. 



Q. You do not name it, I suppose, until you have a quantity of it ? 



A. No. As yet we have only the result of the growth of one kernel. We had on 

 the plant three or four heads of this wheat, and every kernel has been carefully pre- 

 served for sowing. They were taken out without injuring the form of the heads, as I 

 intended to show them to you to-day.' Unfortunately, I have forgotten to bring them 

 with me. 



By Mr. Wilson: 



Q. Those were the heads you had here yesterday or the other day ? 



A. Yes. I had them with me then. I think it is important that such work as 

 this should. go on all the time, as we want to be prepared, should any of the best sorts 

 of grain now cultivated show, evidences of giving out, to be in a position to suggest a 

 profitable substitute. The study of varieties and the production of new sorts of grain, 

 next to that of maintaining the fertility and productiveness of the land, is to my mind, 

 the most important line of work we are conducting. Another point I wish to refer to 



