260 Varieties of Wheat and Methods of Improving iherri. 
The only addition I shall venture to make to the foregoing 
account is that several of the cross-bred wheats originated by 
means thus clearly described are now widespread in France, where 
for several years past they have been held in high esteem. 
Messrs. Carter's experiments m the cross-fertilisation of 
wheat commenced in 1883, when twenty-two crosses were 
effected between sorts of wheat which had been previously col- 
lected and sown for that purpose in the autumn of 1882. The 
experiments were partly suggested by the offer of prizes by the 
Royal Agricultural Society for the best new varieties of wheat, 
and partly by personal observation of the disastrous consequences 
of late harvests in Scotland, where wheat frequently remains in 
the field till the end of October or even in November, the 
varieties in cultivation ripening too late for the climate. 
The plan laid down at the outset was the use of good parent 
sorts and the crossing of varieties as wide apart as possible in 
ajjpearance and character. The objects to be attained were early 
maturity, productiveness, hardiness, and high quality both of 
grain and straw. Another object kept in view was the crossing 
of red and white wheat, so as to obtain in one grain the colour 
of white wheat with the strength and body of red. Among the 
earliest results may be mentioned that in 1881 the twenty-two 
cross-bred wheats pi'oduced an average of twenty-two ears per 
plant, and that in 1 885 each ear, taking a full ear of each cross, 
produced an average of sixty-five grains. 
It is important to notice that ordinary cultiv^ation was re- 
sorted to, as opposed to thin seeding and the production of giant 
ears. The experiments were carried out at Messrs. Carter's 
Forest Hill Nurseries, and as these are near my house I have 
enjoyed at all times and seasons the frequent opportunity of 
inspecting the trial plots. I must be content to offer a very 
brief summary of these experiments, showing the varieties of 
some of the wheats that have been used as parents, and the 
peculiarities of the offspring. 
In crossing red and white wlieat together a white sort called Fill-measure, 
with smootlichalt'and square ears, was crossed with Selected Red Square Head 
wheat a? the male parent. The offspring has longer straw than either parent, 
and longer ears than the male, which has, however, clearly influenced the 
cross-bred oH'spring in the shape of the ear and the colour of the grain. 
This same successful cross turns out to be satisfactory in regard to quality, 
as well as being one of the earliest wheats next to the Talavera group. 
Another cross between lioyal Prize Red and another long-eared variety 
exhibits a carious freak, since the long, s(juare, thick-set ears are distinct from 
those of either parent. In another cross between the same i-ed wheat and a 
long-eared white wheat, as male, the influence of the latter has been most 
potent in the colour of the grain ; while, curiously enough, the ofispring ripens 
a fortuight earlier than either parent. 
