IMPROVING WHEAT VARIETIES

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1831, 10 April 1907, Page 48

IMPROVING WHEAT VARIETIES

SOME AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCES The following interesting information on what is being done by intelligent experimenters in various parts of the Commonwealth is from the' “Leader,” of March 23rd:—

As a supplement to his main crop, every wheat grower should devote ~a few acres every year to different varieties in order to discover the one most suitable to his immediate surroundings, and the one which on the. whole will give the most profitable results. Among the seed breeders who have done a large amount ofvaluable work for Australia are Mr Win. Farrer, in New South Wales; Mr Hugh .Pye and Mr McAipine, in Victoria; and "Messrs Bichard Marshall and Joseph Correll, in 'South Australia. So numerous are •be different varieties that they are rpt to become somewhat confusing. The scientific ■experimenting, however," has been very largely supplemented by the operations of the practical farmers (in which class is included Messrs Marshall and Cornell), and by their help a mvnad of varieties has been reduced to something under a dozen in all, while for actual use the varieties now Lund most suitable do not go beyond three of four. As far' as the wheat g’-owing areas of South Australia, Victoria and Kaverina are concerned, the general conditions are so similar that what is found most suitable for one is on the whole, fairly well the same for all. A wheat for these areas requires to have four essential qualities: first, it must be an early variety, sufficiently early to esc a pie the hot winds •it harvest time; second, it has to have drought resisting capacity, and together with thriving on a limited rainfall ; third, it has to have the power holding the grain when ripe without shaking;, and fourth, it has to be a sample acceptable by the miller. For the more northerly regions, such as those resembling the Victorian malice, Dart’s Imperial, according to the experiences of the majority of the growers, most fully fulfils the qualities ilist enumerated; while the purple Straw varieties are the best wherever the conditions are a little more generous than the extreme north- with respect to rainfall. Of the Purple Straw varieties, one that has established itself in favour during the past couple of years is the Steer’s Early Purple, and during the past year two new wheats, Federation and Bohs, have arrested a good deal of attention on account of their fairly all round conformity to required conditions. .

A. notable feature in connection with wheat growing in South Australia has been the attention directed to the growing of wheats capable of producing strong flours. The interest is mainly due to the fact that both millers and grain merchants have offered, substantial premiums for strong flour varieties of wheat, such as Manitoba. Whereas the pure Manitoba wheat is a very superior raw material from the tv iller’s point of view, experience has taught that its cultivation is not a success in the average Australian wheat country. The Fife wheats, commonly termed “Manitoba” in Australia, are too late for Australian conditions, and are very inferior drought resisters. Although in some instances they have done well, yet, as a general rule, the returns have been disappointing to the farmer, and therefore it oannot bo recommended . that their cultivation should be persevered with, except in districts with heavy rainfall. The aim of the agriculturist in the past has concentrated itself in the production of prolific varieties, irrespective of their milling values. “I do not hesitate to

state,” writes Mr M. Ivahlbaum, in tne “Journal of Agriculture of South Australia,” “that the rust difficulty has been the cause of changing the character of South Australian wheats. From the white wheats of former days tbev have changed to a decided amber colour. The Ward’s Prolific strain per. meates our crops, together with such varieties as Steinwedel, King’s Early, and others of similar character more noted for their prolific yield than for their milling quality. Since the agri. culturist has found it possible, in the past, to increase the value of his crops by cultivating varieties which acoom. modated themselves to special conditions, the possibility of combining pro. fit ably increased flour strength and high milling value is worthy of attention. The most important strong flour wheat at present claiming the attention of the South Australian wheat giower is Comeback, which was produced by Mr W. Farrer, Wheat Experimentalist to the New South Wales Department of Agriculture. The origin of Comeback is the jirogeny M Vanessa and Indian J., crossed with improved Fife.”

This year, Mr Kahlbaum informs us, Comeback has for the first time been produced in sufficient quantity to take ito place as a merchantable variety. Thousands of bags of this variety have been harvested during the past season, and it is recorded that in the Tumby Bay district ten bags per acre have been stripped. It has yielded best where untouched by frost; but, being an early wheat, it suffered most in the Lower North. Without exception, the gram has been of very superior quality, and has scaled in many instances 681 b per bushel. The coastal districts have given the highest yields and most perfect grain. At this time it is described as rust resistant, fair yielding, and of such early habit as to ensure fair crops, even in the dry districts of the north. It has been ascertained that in 1896 Mr Farrer sent a few dozen of small samples to South Australia, and two growers undertook reproduction from these samples until larger quantities were available for seed. It soon became evident that only a few of these samples bore resemblance to fixed types, although + here was actually little difference in die appearance of the grains. It. further became evident that only one or two of these types exhibited superior Qualities from a grower’s point of view. It was found that these held their giain well, produced a strong, upright straw, thrashed easily, and yielded the best average crops. Before these facts were ascertained, however, small quantities of the unreliable types found their way into a number of hands, and were grown, with the result that “Comeback” has had its name unfairly injured. The type which has proved itself the best all round is now termed “Comeback No. 6,” and that is the type which, received the endorsement of Mr Farrer himself. Selected m South Australia, it then returned te New South Whiles, where it origin-

Med, and to the fact that Comeback was not fixed when the original samples were distributed is due the faults found in some crops that have been recently complained of. Air Kahltaum, who is entitled to the thanks o f wheat growers generally for his careful investigation into the history of this variety of wheat, says it is not l=is wish to imply that Comeback is an ideal wheat that in eve:j*y possible point will fulfil the complete requirements of the -farmers in every district. Such a wheat has not yet been discovered. Comeback, however, he regards as the most valuable hard strong flour wheat which we so far possess, and until we get a better it should bo the aim of farmers to give it a place among the other varieties being chosen this year for testing through the growing of a few acres. On account of its splendid rust resisting qualities, it should prove itself of advantage to those districts subject to this scourge. Probably the most reliable means of obtaining a few bags for trial would be through the South Australian Department of Agriculture.