Seager Wheeler

Seager Wheeler

Seager Wheeler, plant breeder, farmer (b on the Isle of Wight, Eng 1869; d at Victoria 15 Dec 1961). After starting work at age 11, Wheeler immigrated to Saskatchewan in 1885, working on farms near Moose Jaw and Saskatoon until 1897, when he bought his own farm near ROSTHERN. In 1904 he began selective breeding of spring wheat, developing such popular varieties of the time as Early Triumph, Kitchener, Red Bobs and Supreme. He was 5 times the world champion hard spring wheat grower between 1911 and 1918, a fact used by agents of the Canadian government in the United States to promote settlement of the Canadian Prairies. He also developed hardy fruits and other crops, winning several awards. Some of his techniques were documented in his 1919 Wheeler's Book on Profitable Grain Growing.