WHEAT RESEARCH INSTITUTE MEETS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 143, 18 June 1931, Page 6

WHEAT RESEARCH INSTITUTE MEETS.

, VARIETY OF WORK DONE ‘ IN LAST THREE MONTHS. Th® New Zealand Wheat Research Institute met to-day. There were present: Dr H. G. Denham (chairman), Messrs R. lv. Ireland, R. J. Lyon, W. S. Pratt. A. Jones, C. 11. Hewlett. C. r! Boon, F. W. Hawker, W. W. Mulholland, and James Carr. T» e report of the Director (Dr F. W. MHgendorf) stated that practically all the variety trials for next season were now sown, except that in South Otago. Th® breeding plots at Lincoln College were sown under the best conditions of , r * BGII and labour. A total of 9400 plots were put in, this being practically double last year’s total. The tune occupied in sowing was, howevfi, hardly greater than that occupied last year, owing to th© increased efficiepcv of the organisation, labour and equipMos . t Prominent among the facilities making for increased efficiency of this work was th© provision of th® large shed in the experimental field. Its total cost was about £470. The collection of foreign wheat varieties now numbered 2700, and was providing Important material for study. Laboratory Report. Th© laboratory report for th® five months of the present year showed: (I) 236 milling and baking trials for farmers and millers. (2) Over 600 floOr samples baked for distributors and for individual millers and bakers. (31 A thorough investigation into th® ®ffect of heat treatment of various rntll streams in the baking quality of flour. This involved the baking of over 600 samples of flour, and had led to a much better understanding of the principle* involved. (4) A protein survey of ovpf 800 samples grouped by districts. This work was in accord with the practice i* other parts of the world, and had to b® given a thorough trial here. The results obtained were not of striking utility, and it was not intended to extend this line of investigation. (5) A complete chemical analysis of 38 stock feeds and feed mixes used by New Zealand merchants. These W’ould prove a useful source of reference on New Zealandgrown feeds for students of animal nutrition. (6) Milling and baking trials on 53 strains of wheats grown by the Institute at Lincoln College. On® group of wheats, the progeny of Tuscan crossed with White Fife, gave distinct promise of an improvement in quality. (7) Comparisons of the baking scores of 52 Hours, baked immediately after milling and after keeping for flve weeks. Nearly every flour showed an improvement, the average increase in the baking score being about 4 points. (8) A test of ten snmples of North Island wheats, showing that this wheat compares more than favourably with wheat grown In the South Island under this year’s weather conditions. (9) Moisture tests of samples of wheat representing 200,000 bushels. Pleasure at reception of the Institute’* periodical reports was expressed by Professor C.’ H. Bailey, Department of Agriculture, University of Minnesota.