WHEAT GROWN IN TWELVE WEEKS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10628, 3 December 1910, Page 6

WHEAT GROWN IN TWELVE WEEKS.

EXTRAORDINARY CROP IN ESSEX. "Man is now the master of the seasons/ 1 said Mr R. 3. Suter to a Loudon Express representative, describing with all the ardor of an enthusiast hisexperiment in wheat growing. Mr Snter sowed a field with wheat on Jiilv 10 last. The seed had been specially treated with a new process invented bv Mr J. J. Melville. On. July,, 24—only five days later, instead ot the usual three weeks—the wheat sprouted above ground; on August 1 the.ground I was rolled; and on September 16 the first cars appeared. . An Express- representative saw the field—an acre and two thirds in extent—yesterday. It was covered with a thick mass of fine wheat, standing about four feet high, well matured, with six-incli ears.. "This means a revolution in .naming," said Mc Suter. "In ten days from now this wheat will be ready for reaping—twelve weeks from the time it was sown.. The ordinary time—the quickest I have known in this country —is eighteen weeks, and in Canada about fourteen. , "Everything was against the wheat; the whole experiment lias been conducted under the worst conditions. The wheat was sown three months after the usual. time, when the vitality.; of the seed is at its lowest." So far from the ground being specially treated, I only prepared it roughly. I did far less than; I should do in the case of an ordinary crop. We had some very cold weather and frosty mornings, too, three weeks ago. . , , T "Had I sown ordinary wheat I. should: have had a foot or so of stuff fit to give to my cows. • . "There has been some talk or two crops a year, but though this is within the range of possibility I do not For oiie moment advocate it. "One prolific crop is what we aim at. The process ensures prolific crops, it ensures getting your seed bed ready without the liorses going on it at too early a period ;'it renders you independent- of the season; and the whole process as : regards labor will be greatly

cheapened. . • "Instead of hoeing subsequently to the planting of wheat, which injures the wheat, and which involves much manual labor and time, the ground will tie harrowed beforehand by horse labor. The first crop of surface weeds will be killed, and if necessary a. second crop. "When the wheat goes in it will go into practically a clean seed bed. The rapid progress of the wheat seed will prevent any formidable reappearance ot weeds. Harvesting will be accelerated, for there will be practically 110 weeds in the sheaves.. "Owing to the later <late at which seed treated with Mr Melville's process may be sown we can prepare the ground carefully beforehand, and sow later. The crops will then ripen, in the June sunshine. Not only is the seed quicker in growth; it is also more prolific." . „ Four-breasted wheat is usually grown in this country, but Mr Suter has carried 1 out his experiment with Russian two-breasted wheat. He emphasises the fact that the process is applicable to any kind of cereal. "I cannot give you details ot tlie process yet," he said, "but it occupies three weeks, and effects such a change in the vitality of the seed that- its life force is trebled. The cost places it within the means of every farmer. "Among the wheat seeds which were treated for me there were by accident an oat and a jiea. That oat is now ripe and the pea is 3ft. 6in. high. Both are in splendid condition in spite of the faet that they -are out of season."