Marquis Wheat, 1909

Canadian scientists have helped to banish the darkness, to feed people better, to view the smallest objects, and to cure once fatal diseases. In 1903 Charles Saunders began working on a cross between two wheat varieties, Red Fife and Hard Red Calcutta. The resulting strain, named Marquis Wheat, matured faster than other wheats. It was also disease resistant and increased yields considerably, which greatly facilitated agriculture on the Prairies, an area with a short frost-free growing season. These stamps, designed by Roger Hill of Toronto, mark the end of the three-year stamp series on Canadian Innovations in Science and Technology. The scientific achievements being honoured have been accurately rendered in a pleasing and precise illustrative style. Like the previous two issues which focussed on the themes of Transportation and Communications, this year's stamp designs features notes, drawings and diagrams on the development of each innovation on their backgrounds.