EARLY MATURING WHEAT.

Waikato Times, Volume xxvi, Issue 2458, 8 May 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

EARLY MATURING WHEAT.

When* the Victorian Minister of Lands, Mr J L. Dow, was tecuntly in America, lie obtained at Phoenix, in Arizona, a simple of early-maturing u heat. As the grain was cultivated on irrigated land, be thought iti premature growth might have been due ta the artificial watering rather than to any inherent property of the wheat. On his return to the colony, however, he handed the wheat to Air Hill, one of his constituents ah Archdale, and h<» has now (the "Argus" states) received a satisfactory report on the experiment which was made with it. Mr Hill found that the grain ripened fully a month before the usual time, was prolific, and furnished a good milling sample. Ho was altogether highly satisfied with the result of the experiment. It had been asserted that it would be a distinct gain to the fanners of the colony if wheat could be obtained which would produce crop 3 sufficiently advanced in October to withstand, without serio»s injury, the hot winds which prevail during that month. In view of this Mr Dow has sent to America for a large parcel of the early-maturing wheat, and will endeavour to obtain it in time for the next seeding, and distribute small lots to farmers in taiious parts of the colony.