CROSSBRED WHEAT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2302, 14 December 1889, Page 2

CROSSBRED WHEAT.

Alhtougii from the very earließt times the improvement of the breed of live stock, particularly that of horses, has been the aim of thousands of pastoralists of every clime and nation, it is only within the past generation that attention seems to have been devoted to the possibility of a similar improvement m cereal products. It may be, perhaps, that m the days of the Pharaohs the Egyptians, who were great wheat growers, and who seem to have discovered most things which the moderns have had to rediscover for themselves, may have done something, or it may even be a good deal m this direction, but if so there is not, go far as we are aware, any record of the fact, and it is undoubtedly true that, so far as modern history is concerned, tho beginning of experiments m this direction dates only from a period within the lifetime of the present generation. The « breeding » of new and improved varieties of wheats, is now, however, a science beginning to be well understood, and experiments m this direction have already resulted m the development and establishment of new varieties, characterised by remarkable vigour and productiveness, some of which it is claimed are proof against rust and other diseases which attack this staple of human life, while at least one is said to be "bird-proof," the apex of the chaff being furnished with a sharp pointed awn, which renders the ears practically unassailable by these winged depredators. Among those who have most successfully experimented m the hybridisation of wheat are the Messrs Carter, the well-known seedsmen of High Holborn, London, whose pamphlet on Crossbred Wheat ließ before ns as we write. From this we learn that their experiments m the cross-fertilisa-tion of wheat commenced m 1883, when " twenty-two crosses were effeoted between sorts of wheat which had been previously collected and sown for that purpose m the autumn of 1882. The experiments were partially suggested by the offer of priaes by the .Royal Agricultural Society for the best new varieties of wheat, and partly by personal observation of the disastrous consequences of late harvests m Scotland, where wheat frequently remains m the field till the end of October or even till November, tho { varieties m cultivation ripening too late for the climate. The plan laid down at the outset was the use of good parent sorts and the crossing of varieties as wide apart as possible m appearance and character. 'J he objects to be attained were early maturity, productiveness, hardiness, and high quality both of grain and straw. Another object kept m view was the crossing of red and white wheat, go as to obtain m one grain tho color of white wheat with the strength and body of red. Among the earliest results may be mentioned that m 1884 the twenty-two crossbred wheats produced an average of twentytwo ears per plant, and that m 1885 each ear, taking a full car of each cross, produced an average of sixty-five grains." Following are tho results of some of the experiments made as described m the pamphlet under notice :— • "la oroHHing rod and white wheat together a white sort oalled Fill-measure, with smooth chaff and square earß, waß crossed with Seleoted Red Square Head wheat as the mala parent. The offspring has longer straw than either parent, and longer earß than the male, whioh has, however, dearly influ- j enoed the oroßs-bied offspring m the shape of the ear ond the color of the grain. This same successful cross turns out to be Batiafaotory m regard to quality, as wall aa being one of the earliest wheats next to the Talavera group. " Another orosa between Royal Prize Red and another long-eared variety exhibits a ourious freak, since the long, square, thick set ears are distinot from those of either parent. In another oiobb between the same red wheat and a long-eared white wheat, as male, the influence of the latter has been most potent m the color of the grain • while, ouriously enough, the offspring ripena a fortnight earlier than either parent. "A oroßß between a woolly-ohaffed white wheat, and a Bmooth-ohafied dub-headed red for male, proveß exceedingly productive and vigorous, one plant having yielded sixty ears and a field crop having produced at the rate of fifty-four bushels per aore. The oolot of the grain shows the influenoe of eaoh parent alike. "In another oase square-headed white, female, and long-eared white, male, have produced a wheat whioh proves to be the last Bort to thrust its ear from the sheath of the stem, while, next to Talavera, it is one of the earließ-. to mature, Except that tho ear is oloßely paoked, it favorß moat the male parent, having an ear and grain of the same color and the same- length of straw. " A oroes was effeoted between the Talavera and Royal Jfrize Red for the purpose of obtaining the early habit and superb quality of the former, combined with the vigorous constitution of the latter. The result proves a decided eucoess, the offspring of the oroas, or rather the latest Beleotion from it, possessing the desired qualities* "The seleotion from a oroßß between a bearded Apdl wheat and an Amerioan bearded variety proves earlier than either parent, with grain quite equal to the wellknown Russian Kubanka. Thia, of oourße, ie a spring wheat, and the hat.it derived from its parents must be kept up by constant sowing ia spring. "One of the most singular results of crossing is found m a sort whioh has reoeived tha oharaoterißtio name of Birdproof. The female parent v»as Fill-measure, the male an American bearded wheat, and the orosß exbibitß sharp-pointed awns on some of the glumes at the apex of the ear-— a defence whioh birds nave unovm themselves Bby ol approaohing." Tables are given showing the dates of sowing, dates of ripening, and the yield of 31 different varieties, and altogether a macs of information of exceeding interest to wheat growerß is afforded. Writing of Messrs Carter's experiment the " Gardeners' Chronicle " says : — " We do not profess to bo able to assess the probable practical value of the results, but we can testify to the very remarkable results which speedily make themselves apparent, m stature, earliness or lateness of ripening, size, shape, color of ear and grain, smoothness or hairiness of chaff, and many other points. Two things especially struck us m these crossbred wheats — one the increased robustness of the hybrid offspring, aad next the look of superior refinement and improved caste, if we may say so, m the hybrid grains. On tho ground we were told that these appearances were not deceitful, but that Mark Lane men, daily accustomed to inspect and handle samples, recognise superior quality, and detect better milling properties m some of these crossbred productions of fine outward appearance." The " Times " writing on the same subject, adds the following :— " Among noticed peculiarities of the new wheats, some exhibit m a high degree firm setting of the grain, or nonliability to be shaken out by winds-— a desideratum for New Zealand wheat growers. .... Another new sort is remarkable for the short, thick, and strong nature of the straw, bidding lair to defy any weight of rain to lodge

it, and being especially adapted for poor, cold, or wet soils. A very important feature of the experiments is the remarkable vigour and productiveness of one and all of the hybrids as compared with the parents, the cultivation being the same for all." These considerations are of the greatest possible interest to our agricultural readers, and the whole subjeot is indeed well worthy of their attention.