MAGAZINE of science and art. 
people imagine. If nine-tenth'* of the wheat grow¬ 
ers were naked. “ wh.it kind of wheat no you sow ? 
IVhat kind of replies would they make ? 
In the vast majority of samples commonly us d. 
may be fonnd mixtures of whito and red. and 
crosses, re-crossed beyond mortal discrimination. 
Ono great disadvantage of such a medley, will be 
found in the unequal ripening of crops, and another, 
in the unequal sites of the grains and low quality of 
tho flour. Whether the royal swan white is the 
best adapted fir Austral latitudes is a matter of 
doubtful opinion. It certainly yields well in good 
soils and mild climates, affords good flour with little 
bran, and also plenty of straw, but like all naked 
wheats—whether reds, talavera, or any others, it is 
very suhject to aftaoka of the wheat fly ; Cecidonya 
trilici, already imported, and of tho weevil, curemio 
ffranarius. They are also more subject than some 
others to blight or (and) millduw, for it is difficult to 
make a clear distinction. 
The Egyptian wheat, T. compositum or corn of 
abundance, finds favor with a few farmers. It is 
generally sown in Italy and north Africa. The ear 
is bearded and the rachis branches into three heads. 
This wheat is well adapted for arid lands, for it 
bears draughts surprisingly. The flour however 
seldom ranks AI. Next the T. Spelta or Koman 
triticum is generally sown in the south of Europe 
and is said to grow wild in Sicily. Tho awned kind 
is best suited for Australia, bearing largo grains 
although not numerous, but its straw stalks are al¬ 
most solid. 
The last variety Seems worthy of extended cul¬ 
ture in the colony, and perhaps some public spirited 
gentleman will obtain a few bushels of cloan seeds 
from Sicily, or elsewhere, just for trial. 
But while wo road, write, er talk of wheat’s per¬ 
taining to other Countries, why should not Aus¬ 
tralia possess a variety of its owu, to be yet re¬ 
nowned in story, and also crack breeds of horses, 
sheep, and cattle, as well as men and women, “ be¬ 
yond all Roman fame.” Far from impracticable 
and not at all impossible. Let us at present attend 
to the wheat. Any person who has open eyes can 
discover, in a ripening wheat ttold, some stalks milch 
taller than others, some ears much larger, grains 
plumper, skin thinner, ifce. Mark these; cut them 
down and class by themselves. Having selected 
tho grains of two-thirds the upper portion of ears 
for seed, dibble these in the season, into good clean 
ground, three inches apart, longitudinally ; and six 
inches laterally. They will spring up vigorously 
and tiller numerously. In a dewy morning, detach 
the tillers and plant them out. By tills plan, a few 
grains may bo multiplied in a single season into 
thousands, and tho beauty consists in that tho 
tellered stalks will produce better grains than the 
parent stocks. Herein lies the great improving ad¬ 
vantage ; but stop transplanting in time to allow 
the whole sets sufficient sun and air for maturing 
their ears in season. Next year, the grains may be 
sown thus, broadcast; or dibbled again. The drill 
system economizes seed one-half yet yields full re¬ 
turn per acre. In this manner tho writer and a 
very industrious neighbour are proceeding at pre¬ 
sent, with a few grains of wheat they Consider a 
new variety, if successful, the society may reoeive 
a sample and report, some other day or night, by 
way of illustration,—Mr. Millar raised f>00 plants 
from ono grain in a single season, and 570,840 grains 
as the total produce—a very fair beginning certainly 
in one year. Some careful folks employ part of 
their spare time in culling with the hand all pinmp 
grains from a given quantity. It is an excellent 
plan and was practised long ago. 
Unless the peasant with his annual pain 
Renews his ohoice and culls the largest grain— 
Degenerare tamen, “Vir.” 
The natural climes of wheat lie between the 
2 1 
latitndes of 30 and 00, elevation excepted ; as Hum¬ 
boldt found wheat growing within the tropics at an 
elevation of 1U.OOO feet. In this range, we may 
imagine a prodigious variety of soils and no doubt, 
varieties of wheat may bo found easily and usefully 
adapted by man to local circumstances and climat¬ 
ology, if he industriously applied himself to tho 
profitable undertaking in a rational manner. 
The intrinsic value of wheat greatly depends on 
tho high proportion of its gluten ; and warm 
climates produco this gluten in greater abundance 
than colder countries. Australia therefore ought 
to grow wheat averaging G4 pounds per bnshol, by 
good management. Societies and associations give 
mighty impulses to industry in all its ramifications. 
Air. Collie, at the Illawarra agricultural and 
horticultural Exhibition, 1857, brought forward 
wheat, weighing 78 pounds per bushel. Doubtless 
it was dried and dressed like dantzlo wheat, of 18 
ears seasoning, still tho fact showed, what could 
e dono at Illawarra-snnd if at Illawarra, why not 
on the Hunter, Macleay, and -Macquarie, or else¬ 
where. A proper change of seed means not tho 
crossing of a creek or dividing ridgo to purchase 
his wheat from a neighbour at a couple of shillings 
more money than a man can obtain for his own, 
as both have probably been grown year after year, 
(annis quot annis) on similar soils and both 
nearly equally reduced. 
But a change proper, means, seed from a lime¬ 
stone to a clay, or inversely, from a light sand to a 
heavy loam—from Illawarra to New England— 
from Tasmania to the Bathurst plains—from the 
Leneth to the Nadir, or opposite points.. Any 
farmer of common, no, but with a little uncommon 
diligence—no great feat, might as easily raise tho 
actual worth of his wheat Is. per bushel above his 
neighbour, as a flock-owner by judicious manage¬ 
ment could obtain 6d, per pound more than others 
for his wool; and tho owners and tho country are 
loth bonefitted. 
It is the nutritive qualities contained in food 
which really constitute the intrinsic value. 
With almost a virgin soil, a fine climate and im¬ 
proved machinery; what do wo want except a little 
more skill and a considerably larger share of in¬ 
dustry to bo independent of the world for the staff 
of life 
Adverse seasons will rerisit us, but say, what 
country is not subjected to like dispensations. 
Without hesitation it is asserted, that in by far a 
majority of oases, tho wheats in common use, are 
worn out, or else, ill adapted for tho soils and 
climates of Australia. 
Tho rule is equally applicable in various other 
instances 'Tis the adaptation of stock or vegeta¬ 
tion to the geographical position of a country or 
colony, which constitutes one powerful auxiliary to 
insure success. Tho prime mover ought to be utility. 
The man who increases the stores of his country is 
one of its benefactors and he who adds new pro¬ 
ductions is well entitled to public gratitude. Tho 
agriculturist er horticulturist who takes pains to 
mark tho progress of their crops or plants, who se¬ 
lect the best ears of corn, tho best roots, shoots, 
bulbous grasses, Ac. of tho most utilitarian kind3 
and persevere in this plan, will not only take tho 
sure course to enrich himself, but will perform im¬ 
portant services to the colony. Tho field is exten¬ 
sive, the paths of scientific research almost untrodden. 
Tho harvest is great, but the labourers are few. 
But although wheat is thus chosen as a pertinent 
example, we find many other cereals, gramina, tim¬ 
bers, Ac. all in want of renovation. Many of the 
old bush woods refuse to grow any longer in the 
soil of tiieir family predecessors. Changes na¬ 
turally ensue of forest vegetation, but seldom noticed. 
In America oaks succeed pines, cherry trees, oaks ; 
and so on, alternando et invertendo. The transmu*- 
