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LI Ocr., 1897.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. ying 
growing the pure Indian wheats or Farrer’s Cross-breds. ‘They should be grown 
below the Range, where greater results would be obtained with them than if 
grown on the Downs. They are rust-escaping, with a strong straw, and most 
of them are bearded, but the following are all good old bald (unbearded) sorts : 
Indian Fife, Pearl, and Early, which are well suited to the climate and soil of 
this colony. 
Another of the Indian sorts, known as “Indian Hard,” was procured by 
Sir Thomas MclIlwraith when in India, and sent by him to the Department of 
Agriculture. Ithas a considerable amount of flag, and hence should be a good 
variety to grow for hay. é 
There are several other kinds of Indian wheats in this experiment plot, 
but nothing is as yet known as to their qualities for milling or hay-making. 
This will, however, be very shortly determined, as they are all early, and will 
be ready to cut by the end of September. : 
One variety called an Indian wheat, but which really came from Africa, 
iy an old favourite on the Downs, and is the best of all of these wheats. The 
grain is of excellent quality, and is especially liked by millers. Next come 
several varieties of Swedish wheats, which are not, however, in Professor 
Shelton’s opinion, likely to find favour with farmers. A few rows of Town 
and Country, another Downs favourite, look very promising. This is a very 
superior wheat, and will yield, in fair seasons, from 35 to 45 bushels per acre. 
A little-known wheat here is Sunrise. This variety stools well. There 
are few facts known concerning it, but it appears to be a very early variety, 
and may possibly prove productive. é, 
King’s Jubilee is one of the very earliest wheats grown, with a beautiful 
plump grain, white as chalk, but the straw is weak, and it takes the rust, unless 
sown early inthe season. Its chief defect is the weakness of the straw. 
" Hunter’s White, Finley’s, and Purple Straw might well be grown for a 
ay crop. ; 
; Of late years farmers have gone in steadily for sorts which, by their growth, 
give the best promise for hay. All wheats now grown in Queensland have 
little flag, and are deficient in strong qualities, thus being almost useless for 
hay-making. There is a great demand amongst the farmers for varieties 
suitable for hay-making purposes, like Allora Spring, Belatourka, and Canning 
Downs. - Those grown now are lacking in flag, and are good for nothing but 
the grain. 
Allora Spring is growing most luxuriantly alongside of Finley, a wheat . 
grown by Professor Si:elton twenty-five years ago in the State of Kansas 
(U.S.A.) It (the latter) will, however, do no good in this colony. 
A productive wheat is Mexican Spring. It also resists rust. 
Blount’s No. 1 Bearded is really an unproductive ‘‘bald”’ variety. 
Some Russian wheats are being experimented on, but they are already 
pronounced to be worthless, at least for Queensland. Still, an Odessa wheat, 
owing to its creeping habit, is a good sort, but even it will do little good here. 
On Dutoits Mr. Shelton is ominously silent, 
Farrer’s Crossbred, known here as ‘“ Yandilla,” is evidently weak in the 
straw. 
The Tenterfield Red is a good milling wheat, as red wheats go. It is 
excellent for hay-making, as it flags and stools well. 
A hybridised wheat, a cross between Fife and Etawa, introduced by Mr, 
Marshall, promises to be a good variety. . 
The next few rows are occupied by Red Indian King, one of Farrer’s 
crosses. Another of the latter, known as ‘ Gayndah,” is a good promising 
pnd as are also Roma (Farrer’s Crossbred) and Valala, never yet distributed 
ere. 
A French wheat, Mouton, finds no favour at the College. It is of far too 
‘“ereepy’ a nature. 
Purple Straw is a great fayourite down south. It is the most productive 
wheat grown there, but it is not proof against rust. - 
