IT.—'s4.

In connection with the soil-investigation work, critical examination of the results has shown, — (1) That the technique of sampling now adopted allows very accurate samples to be taken by the methods now in use. (2) That there are indications that rapid leaching of added phosphates takes place in soils of the Marton type. (3) That losses of phosphate appear to be reduced if the applications are small and applied at frequent intervals, as opposed to large infrequent applications. (4) That, while it is generally believed that phosphates leach out of the soil very slowly, results obtained on the Marton soil indicate that in a case where 8 cwt. of super was applied, about three-fourths of this amount have been removed from the surface 6 in. of the soil in a period of two years. In this instance, the major portion of this loss of phosphate would appear to have been attributable to leaching. (5) Trials of successive applications of sulphate of ammonia to pasture having had a depressing effect on yields, experiments were inaugurated with a view to ascertaining whether the depression could be attributed to the increasing soil-acidity, and the work carried out indicated that soil-acidity was not a factor which produced this result. WHEAT RESEARCH INSTITUTE. DIRECTOR'S REPORT. Advisory Committee : Professor H. G. Denham (Chairman), Mr. C. H. Hewlett, Mr. James Carr, "Mr. W. W. Mulholland, Mr. P. R. Talbot, Mr. R. K. Ireland, Mr. W. S. Pratt, Mr. R. J. Lyon, Mr. C. E. Boon, Mr. E. H. Hawker, Mr. G. A. Laurenson, Mr. A. G. Cannons, Mr. A. Jones, Mr. J. W. Hadfield. Director of Research : Dr. F. W. Hilgendorf. The Institute has continued work with its former organization. Wheat-breeding. The object of this work is to produce a wheat that yields as well, and is as adaptable as Tuscan, but which is of higher milling-quality. The permanent experimental field of 26 acres was half under fallow and half under plots. These consisted of : (1) Yield trials of standard varieties ; (2) yield trials of the cross-bred Tuscan by White Fife ; (3) yield trials of pure line reselections of the same cross; (4) observation plots of the F 4 , F 3 , F 2 , from sundry crosses; (5) F t plots; (6) parents for current year's crossing ; (7) three chessboards of five or six varieties each for analyses of yield factors ; (8) a collection of wheats from all over the world—over 2,000 varieties. The whole number of plots totalled 9,400. The direction in which most progress has been made is with a cross of Tuscan by White Fife. Last year this yielded almost as well as Tuscan, and was markedly superior in milling extraction and baking-quality. In the harvest just completed it has again compared favourably with Tuscan in yield in two out of the three localities in which it was tried, but was distinctly lower in the other (Wakanui). The baking-quality has, however, proved very disappointing when compared with the Tuscan grown in the same field. This was of quite exceptional quality, and it is still possible that the crossbred may be superior to Tuscan in normal years. Variety trials and certification of seed wheat are proceeding in co-operation with the Department of Agriculture, and the Institute acknowledges its great indebtedness to the Department for its work in these directions. Milling, Baking, and Chemical Tests. The scope of the work done at the laboratory in Christchurch may be seen from the summary of the work for the calendar year "*1931. Milling. White flour— Variety trials .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 119 Manurial and smut treatments . . . . . . .. . . 35 Cut green and cut ripe . . .. . , . . . . . . 21 Harvester header .. .. . . . . . . . . 20 Ashburton Experimental Farm trials .. . . . . . . 27 Miscellaneous— Farmers, millers, stock and station agents . . . . .. 404 Wholemeals— Millers only .. .. .. . . .. .. .. 64 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. 690

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