Early Ripening Wheat.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 428, 14 December 1889, Page 3

Early Ripening Wheat.

Some curious information concerning the above is given in the late issue of *• J. E. Beerbohm's Evening Corn Trade List. 1 It appears that in Manitoba and the Great North-west territory of Canada are lands where the best wheat can be grown. That is, they would be the best wheat lands were it not for one serious drawback— namely, there is always the danger of late summer frosts. The district alluded to contains 200,000,000 acres of most fertile land, an extent twice as large as the American States of lowa, Dacota and Nebraska put together. The Canadian yield of wheat, as compared with that of the American States, is the proportion for the former of 27 bushels to the acre to 12 for the latter. These late summer frosts, however, sometimes, though not often, appear before the wheat is ripe, the result, of course, being enormous damage and loss. It has been hoped that with cultivation and settlement this drawback would disappear, but in the meantime the farmers engaged in the wheat culture of this district have been endeavouring to raise a wheat which would ripen more rapidly and be off the ground before the Irosts arrived. Their efforts have, however, hitherto been unattended with success; but an English firm — Messrs Carter, of Forest Hill — entered with great energy and spirit into the matter, and made experiments in early wheat growing to try and produce a wheat which would suit the Manitoba farmers. The result is said to have been completely successful, and this success has been secured by them through a satisfactory cross between the bearded April wheat and the American Golden-drop. This new crossbred wheat is earlier to ripen than all other varieties now usually grown. te It is," so the writer asserts, " better in every way. It is a larger cropper. The straw is longer and stouter, and the grain heavier and bigger." The writer concludes : "The whole of this work is very interesting to the vegetable physiologist ; but it is of importance also, as showing that this country (Britain) is not only the fountain of improvement for our live stock, but also of the farm plants of the world. It seems that we only require to know what is wanted in either animal or vegetable life in order to produce it, and so add to our resources of production and wealth."