H.—34

Fire-cured Tobacco Quite an appreciable quantity of fire-cured tobacco is imported into New Zealand eacli year for manufacturing certain blends. As this tobacco is grown on a heavy soil type it offers a possible avenue for expansion of the tobacco-growing industry. Preliminary trials are being carried out at the Research Station this season. Three varieties were planted on a suitable soil type and are being cured over open fires in a specially constructed kiln. Kilns and Curing Very little is known regarding what takes place in a kiln during curing, particularly with reference to variation in temperature and humidity in different parts of the kiln, circulation of air, &c. As a basis for further research into kiln practices, officers of the Dominion Laboratory spent some time at the Station taking measurements and observations of these conditions. Soil Survey of Tobacco Lands Tobacco soil maps for the Appleby-Brightwater sector of the Waimea Plains have been prepared This area covers some 9,710 acres of alluvial land, of which 2,012 acres are texturally suited for flue-cured tobacco. Much of this land, however, falls into soil group 3, which requires favourable seasonal conditions to give optimum yield of tobacco. During the past year another 7,000 acres of alluvial land lying between Brightwater and Spring Grove have been mapped. This area contains 1,389 acres belonging to soil groups 2 and 3, both of which are texturally suited to flue-cured tobacco. Over one-half of the land, however, falls into soil group 3, which in dry seasons would not give very satisfactory yields of leaf. Owing to lack of staff it has not been possible to revise the tobacco maps showing the exact distribution of tobacco in the Nelson district, but a study of the acreages, applied for by growers, shows the following changes : 1944 season, 3,105f acres ; 1945 season, 3,367| acres. The increase of tobacco acreage is associated mainly with the Motueka, Riwaka, and Wai-iti localities. WHEAT RESEARCH INSTITUTE Advisory Committee. —Mr. R. J. Lyon (Chairman), Mr. C. E. Boon, Mr. E. R. Callaghan, Mr. J. Carr, Mr. H. E. Fairey, Mr. J. F. Erew, Mr. R. K. Ireland, Mr. A. Jones, Mr. R. McPherson, Mr. W. W. Mulholland, Mr. j. P. O'Connor, Mr. W. O. Rennie, Sir Theodore Rigg, Mr. P. W. Smallfield, Mr. P. R. Talbot. Acting Chief Executive Officer : Dr. 0. H. Frankel. Chief Chemist: Mr. E. W. Hullett. WIIEATGROWING Threshing Returns. —The threshing returns for the 1944 harvest were analysed as usual. For the first time since it was first distributed, Cross 7 did not increase its acreage, but remained stationary at approximately 60 per cent, of the wheat area. Fife Tuscan, a wheat recently produced by the Institute, rose from 3-3 per cent, in 1943 to 7-3 per cent, in 1944, at the expense of Tuscan. The increased yield over Tuscan which Fife Tuscan had shown in the preliminary trials was again confirmed in these threshing returns. In the three survey districts in the Ashburton County where a total of 8,000 acres of Fife Tuscan was grown it yielded 4-8, 2-5, and 6-1 bushels per acre more than Tuscan. Sub-surface Broadcasting.—A new sowing device for sub-surface broadcasting which has come on the market was again tested in field trials, at different rates of seeding, against a normal drill. In a trial laid down in Hunters there was a distinct and significant gain in yield through using the new coulter; in another trial, in Cross 7, there were no differences between treatments. It is concluded from these and previous trials that sub-surface broadcasting may increase yields, but that the circumstances under which this occurs are complex and unknown. Sprouted Wheat for Seed.—The large proportion of sprouted wheat from the harvest of 1945 necessitated a rapid investigation into the laboratory and field germinations of wheat sprouted in different degrees. This study made possible recommendations being issued to farmers for the use of sprouted grain for seed-wheat. Wheat-breeding New Varieties.—Of the advanced lines under test at Lincoln, 78, 01 (Tuscan x Tainui) continued to give good promise. It is now to be tested by the Fields Division in more widespread trials. A new wheat, 140, 014 (Cross 7 X Tainui), combines good agronomic characters—on the whole fairly similar to those of Cross 7—with the highest standard of baking quality. This variety should be especially valuable for the manufacture of wholemeal. This and similar lines will be tested in district trials. Genetic Research.—Biometric and genetic investigations into the variation and inheritance of certain economic characters in wheat have been further advanced. A critical study into methods of selection was commenced. Cytogenetic work on certain aberrants in wheat was continued. Cereal Chemistry, Milling, and Baking Moisture Testing.—As in previous years, testing facilities were made available to farmers, merchants, and millers at Palmerston North, Blenheim, Christchurch, Ashburton, Temuka, Timaru, and Dunedin. The Seed Testing Station at Palmerston North and the New Zealand Wool Manufacturers' Research Association at Dunedin assisted in their respective districts. Milling and Baking Tests.—The unfavourable harvest of 1945 resulted in a very large number of samples being submitted by millers. The testing service has enabled large quantities of wheat to be used which would otherwise have been rejected for milling. Chemical Research Work.—This has continued to suffer from the absence of members of the staff on war work, but chemical investigation of the baking process and the study of baking problems have been further advanced. Wheat-drying. —A line of two hundred and sixty sacks of wheat which had been submerged during the floods and which contained 32 per cent, of moisture was saved from loss by subjecting it to ventilation through a system of simple wooden ducts placed on the floor of a store, A similar line left

39