Influence of Good Seed. 



35 



least five years ; many of them are continued for a much longer 

 period of time. 



Varieties of Common Wheat (Triticum vulgare). 



Three hundred and seventy-three varieties of wheat have been 

 tested for at least five years. Those which have made high 

 records at the College have also given good returns in the 

 co-operative experiments conducted throughout Ontario on 

 hundreds, and even thousands, of farms. It is interesting to note 

 that those varieties which took the lead in the experiments at the 

 College, and were distributed for the co-operative experiments 

 several years ago, are the most extensively grown varieties in 

 the province at the present time. Other varieties of high quality 

 are now being used both for distribution and as foundation 

 material for plant breeding. 



When tested under uniform conditions of soil and climate, it is 

 found that certain wheats are particularly strong in some 

 respects and comparatively weak in others. In order to secure a 

 wheat best suited for the locality in which it is to be grown, it is 

 necessary to have a proper blending of such valuable characteristics 

 as strength of straw, yield per acre, quality of grain, &c. The 

 differences in the varieties are shown in Table i, giving the average 

 results of twelve varieties of winter wheat and twelve of spring 

 wheat which have been tested at the Ontario Agricultural College 

 for several years in succession. The varieties selected in each 

 class are those which have given the largest average yields of 

 grain per acre, as determined on the experimental plots. 



Dawson's Golden Chaff stands highest in average yield of grain 

 per acre of the fifteen varieties of winter wheat tested in each of 

 fourteen years. It produces a very stiff straw of medium length, 

 beardless heads with red chaff and white grain somewhat soft, 

 but slightly over the standard in weight per measured bushel. The 

 Early Genesee Giant furnishes a straw of medium length and of 

 fair strength, a short, compact, bearded head, and a grain of 

 fairly good quality. The Imperial Amber produces a large amount 

 of straw which is somewhat weak, a bearded head, red chaff, and 

 a red grain of average quality. The Geneva, the Tasmania Red, 

 and the Turkey Red varieties yield about ten bushels per acre 

 per annum less than the Dawson's Golden Chaff and possess 

 comparatively weak straw, but the grain is hard, weighs well per 

 measured bushel, and produces large loaves of bread of good 

 texture. The Crimean Red variety of winter wheat, which has 

 been imported more recently, surpasses the Turkey Red in both 

 yield and quality of grain, but the Crimean Red is even weaker 

 in the straw than the Turkey Red. 



Minnesota No. 163 occupies the highest place in yield of grain 

 per acre among the varieties of spring wheat tested at the College 



