FROM ONE HEAD OF WHEAT

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 819, 17 May 1910, Page 8

FROM ONE HEAD OF WHEAT

OTAGO EXPERIMENT. To have raised over 50 bags of wheat from one head of grain is certainly something to be proud-of. While tho Christ-, church Exhibition was open it was visited by Mr. Robert John Elliott, of Mount barker, Lake Wanaka. He was rather impressed by some red Tuscan wheat exhibited in the sheaf (says the "Otago Daily Times"), and took home with him a single head. As it was too late to sow in the field, the month being November, he planted the seed in the garden, and when ripe secured sufficient grain to about cover the lid of an ordinary matchbox. This seed was planted alongside other wheat, the only diffcr'ence in the treatment being the leaving of more space between the seeds. Tho result was a yield of 171b. This was sown again in the autumn, and a yield of eight bushels was obtained. With this an area of about five acres was sown last autumn, and when harvested the yield, filled 50 sacks, the quantity in each-sack being 2001b. The grain is a very .fine cample, and will be exhibited at the Dunedin Winter Show. Except that more space has been allowed between tho seeds the grain has had no special and has been sown without manure. Mr. Elliott is pleased with the wheat because it appears to resist tho' attack of smut better than the majority of wheats, the dressings of bluestone applied, to the seed having been very. light. The wheat; is striking proof of the sample of grain which can be produced in Central Otago.