CROSSBRED WHEATS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LV, Issue 5712, 1 July 1893, Page 3

CROSSBRED W HEATS.

We were ehovp yesterday at the Farmers' , So-operative Association offices, some samples it crossbred wheats, which have been " bred " | by Messrs James Carter and Co., the well- , known seedsmen. By careful cross fertilisa- : uion and subsequent guarding of the eeleoted ■ plants, they succeeded after seven yean , experimenting m obtaining eleven distinct varieties, seed fro-n which, when other :haraoters had become fixed, they distributed it Home at fancy prices. In 1890 Meters < BYiedlandcr, of Ashburton, obtained samples I }f tbe eleven new wheats, and gave them to I m Asbburton farmer to grow, and the next i rear the produce was sown m another dis- : trict. Tho result of Ihe two years' experi i menta was to discard six of the eleven samples ' as unedited to tho soil or climate of Canter bury, and to pvove that tbe other five are likely to be valuable here. Tbe Farmerb' ' Association, as agents for Friodlander Bros., , are now selling four of these varioties. These are lettered and described by Messrs Fried lander as follows : — " Selection 1., a bearded wheat prolific. It seems of the variety to bow late and harvest early, Straw, medium length, well headed, valuable for late spring sowing." The board is atroDg and is said to be practicably unassailable by birds. This selection is a red wheat, hard from a high proportion of gluten, a medium sized long and thinnish grain, resembling some Ameriosn wheats we have seen. It is prob ably a cross between Bussian and some i£nglhh variety. It is a heavy wheat, i's natural weight being 6?ilbs per bushel. Tbe ntber throe eampiea are pale white wheats. " Selection F.— An early ripening wheat, even whon sown lato. Straw, medium length ; Tery long headed. The chaff is furniihed with at iff awns which teem to keep off birds A bird and wind proof wheat." The prjaoipal peculiarity of" selection^" is the shortness and stoutness of tbo straw,— it is the Tom Thurpfr of the wheat family — characters which make it specially suitable for soils wherein wheat tends to run to etrav, and situations exposed fc> strong winds. "Selection D " grows straw of medium length and is described as very productive and suitable for general purposes. Samples oan be seen at the offices.