Varieties oj Wheat and Methods of Improv'uvj them. 
devoted to the subject. My experiments, moreover, have been made in a 
rough and read)' way on the crops of the farm in the ordinary course of 
husbandry. The seed used has been the ordinary quantitj' of two bushels 
per acre. 
I agTee with you that wheats merely enlarged in the ear and grain by 
thin seeding are constitutionally weak. I think wheat so treated does not 
transmit the vigour which tlie development thus obtained would indicate. 
My firm opinion is that in order to establish in seed a property wliich is to 
atiect succeeding crops it must have been acquired by treatment for a series of 
years directed to that end. The plan I have gone upon has been as follows: — 
Having determined the chief characteristics desirable for developoaent, I 
procured in the lirst instance those wheats which most nearly approached 
in character the conditions I had laid down. After repeated trials I ascer- 
tained which Iviuds were the most suitable to the soil. Then by yearly 
selection from the produce of these and supplying the elements essential to 
a healthy growth, I have, I think, in an appreciable degree induced a 
habit to transmit their acquired characters in succession through the action 
of progressive development. 
I send you a Table showing the results and observations made by me for 
nine successive years, which will give you some indication of what has been 
achieved so far, and you will see, I think, that there has been a decided, 
though intermittent, improvement in both yield and quality. 
Tahle showing the Yield per Acre of Two Varieties of Wheat 
from 1880 to 1888 inclusive. 
Hemarks 
First year of introduction. Straw short ; small ear ; 
grain plump 
An earlier introduction. Straw and ear medium; grain 
plump and white 
No change from last year perceptible 
Grain not so plump ; no change in straw 
Straw longer ; no change in grain 
Straw not altered : Grain improved in colour 
Both straw and gi-ain improved 
Straw longer and stronger ; Grain improved in colour 
Straw very strong and grain ^ood 
Straw strong and bright. Grain improved in colour 
and size 
Straw and grain very good 
Straw bright and j^rain good 
Straw strong and bright and grain very good. \st 
Prize, Ahinijdon Show 
Straw very bright and grain excellent. \st Prize, 
Ituyal Counties Shorn 
Straw shorter but very bright ; grain very fine 
Straw like silver but short ; grain exceptionally fine 
Straw longer but not so bright as year before ; gram good 
Straw longer: not so bright as year before, but strong; 
grain good. 1st Prize Abingdon Shorn 
If the Table had closed with the year 1887, which was an 
excpptionallv good year for wheat, it might hare been con- 
Year 
Anti- 
podes 
Col 
d'Arbresf 
Per acre 
Per acre 
qrs. bus. 
(irs. bus. 
1880 
3 2-1 
1880 
4 0 
1881 
3 2 
1881 
3 7-2 
1882 
3 5-1 
1882 
3 6 
1883 
4 0 
1883 
4 3-5 
1884 
3 7 
1884 
4 4 
1885 
3 C-3 
1885 
4 1-1 
1886 
4 0-4 
1886 
.■5 2 
1887 
4 5-7 
1887 
5 1-3 
1888 
4 7-5 
1888 
5 21 
