The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1931. WHEAT RESEARCH.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18830, 19 March 1931, Page 8

The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1931. WHEAT RESEARCH.

Although very few wheat-growers have yet fully realised the immense importance of scientific research work in connection with their special interests, it is worthy of note, in view of the particularly interesting address delivered before the Chamber of Commerce last night, by Mr C. H. Hewlett, member of the Wheat Research Institute, that in the Commonwealth of Australia, the whole wheat industry has been revolutionised by the plant-breeder, and the work of such a man as the late Win. Farrer has meant millions of pounds sterling to that pountry. It is interesting -to mention the results of the research work as summarised by Dr A. E. V. Richardson, now of the Waite Research Institute, Adelaide, who is regarded as Australia’s leading wheat authority: “The outstanding feature in wheatbreeding work in Australia is the remarkable success achieved in every branch of wheat improvement by that patient and retiring genius—the late William Farrer, of New South Wales. A man who could set out clearly and comprehensively as Farrer, both the goal towards which he was striving in his work of wheat improvement and the methods whereby he hoped to reach that goal, and in less than a decade flood the market with varieties like Federation—the most prolific and popular farmer's wheat in the Commonwealth ; Bobs and Comeback—of an unsurpassed milling excellence; Florence and Genoa—both bunt-resisting varieties; and a host of others enjoying popularity such as Bunyip, Thew, Bayah, Warren, Genoa, Fairbank, Cleveland. Cedar, Jonathan, etc., must have possessed in an unusual degree the insight of genius. It is no exaggeration to say that Farrer has added millions sterling to the national exchequer by the creation of Federation wheat alone.”

A T o special pleading is needed to emphasise the national importance of the research work in connection with wheat production. Just how the miracles are performed can hardly be discussed here, suffice it to say that crossbreeding in wheat offers almost unlimited possibilities to the plant breeder to produce varieties eminently suited to a given set of soil and climatic conditions. It also offers, as the speaker pointed out at the meeting organised by the Chamber of Commerce last night, wide opportunities for the production of varieties more resistant to disease. Hence it is gratifying to be able to say that such remarkable success has been attained in the field of research in New Zealand that crossbreeding has new varieties better for field and disease resistance. In the pamphlet “Wheat for Proft,” the results of the development work are summarised thus:

Improvements of wheat by selection goes back about a century. By this means great improvement has been secured. In New Zealand selection work was begun at Lincoln College by Dr Hilgendorf in 1910. Varieties introduced from overseas to New Zealand in the past twenty years have not replaced to an extent Tuscan, Hunters or Velvet, the standard varieties grown in the Dominion. Dr Hilgendorf has selected improved strains of Hunters, Tuscan, and Velvet which yield several bushels an acre better than the old commercial strains of the same varieties and which have replaced the old commercial strains of these varieties. The improvement in yield has put large sums into the pockets of New Zealand wheat growers. Cross-breeding of wheats has been carried out at Lincoln for some years, and some promising new varieties are under trial. Somewhat trite is the saying, of course, that the man who could make two blades of grass grow where one had previously thrived, was a benefactor to the race, and there can be no doubt that such a service was a high value. The activities of the Wheat Research Institute are so vital and so varied that it is rather regrettable that the immense value of the work being done is not more widely realised. To New Zealanders, the wheat industry is essential to national stability. There may be some question as to the best methods by which the interests of the wheat growers can be safeguarded, but there can be no question as to the foolishness of contemplating for a single moment the prospect of New Zealand ever tolerating the circumstances which might place the supply of wheat for the staff of life in the hands of foreigners. Not for many years did the wheat grower receive the consideration he desires. Various methods were tried to encourage wheat growing and yet keep down the price of bread to the lowest figure; at the same time there has always existed in New Zealand a strong body of public opinion which recognises that because supplies of wheat represent the “staff of life,” the wheat crop is the most important in New Zealand from an economic view. The industry, nevertheless, has had a rather chequered career, but it must be said of existing arrangements that no conditions that have hitherto affected the industry, have given such a welcome stability to a vitally essential industry as has been afforded by the sliding scale of duty; indeed, as Prfessor Tocker has repeatedly pointed out, there is little doubt that a

stronger case can be made out for the protection of wheat than for the protection of any other industry in New Zealand.