Chidham

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origin:United Kingdom first record:1790 references >>>

includes wheats >>> Chiddam Blanc de Mars >>> Chidham Red >>> White Chidham (winter)

BBA Chidham 2014

self-seeded monster 2016

"Chidham" was a single plant found in a hedge by a Mr Woods in the village of Chidham, Sussex in 1790. This makes it slightly early in the "squarehead" flock of early cultivars and indeed it represents slightly higher milling quality than most of these. Chidham Red has a notably strong straight straw and a moderately square head.

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Chidham Red would seem to have been the original type then followed by Chidham (winter) white and Chidham (spring) white. Its unclear whether the white lines are truly selections from within the original Chidham Red or merely seed salesmen jumping on a bandwagon by naming new lines "Chidham".

Chidham White and Chidham Red alongside Browick are the key exports into European early wheat breeding, especially by the Vilmorin company in France. Descendants include Dattel cross Prince Albert and Chidham Red Blé hybride à grosse tête cross Browick and Autumn Chidham White.

"Chidham" often appears mis-spelt as "Chiddam". The Chidham White line is further divided into spring and winter lines.

Other references

The Farmer's Journal by Rogerson and Tuxford (publishers), 1857 LINK
notes: interesting account of Chidham wheat in use in Scotland

The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication, Volume 2 by Charles Darwin, 1868 LINK
notes: passing mention in relation to the origin of new domestic varieties in strange places

The Wheat Plant: Its Origin, Culture, Growth, Development, Composition, Varieties, Diseases, Etc., Etc: by John Hancock Klippart, 1860 LINK
notes: notes on Chiddam (Chidham) wheat by the great American expert Klippart

"Chiddam Wheat is an old and highly esteemed English variety of white wheat and is very generally cultivated in the finest wheat districts of that country It is a free grower, tall strawed, fine square ear, singularly free from awns, grain round fair but starchy and flour a little soft. It is remarkably well adapted for soft easy soils in good condition as it ripens early is not liable to lodge or to become mildewed Weight per bushel seldom under 61 lbs even in wet years and as high as 66 lbs and 67 lbs in dry summers. When cultivated in Scotland the seed requires to be changed every two years from the south of England otherwise deterioration rapidly ensues."

Wheat: Its History, Characteristics, Chemical Composition and Nutritive Properties by Samuel Copland, 1865 LINK

"No 1 Chidham Wheat This is a favourite grain in all parts of the kingdom especially for the best loamy soils for which it is peculiarly adapted It is rather a tender species and although successfully cultivated in most of the English counties does not succeed so well in the more northern climate of Scotland and requires there to have the seed frequently changed and brought from the south The soil most favourable for it should be dry and fertile The weight of the grain is sometimes 67 lbs per bushel and seldom less than 61 lbs."

Germplasm

Chiddam RCA (HUN) #RCAT000515

Chiddam RICP (CZE) #01C0200641

Chiddam CGN (NLD) #CGN04080

Chiddam 8 USDA-ARS (USA) #PI 174615

Chiddam Blanc de Mars USDA-ARS (USA) #PI 174616

Chiddam Blanc de Mars VIR (RUS) #k33304

Chiddam Blanc de Mars VIR (RUS) #k21460

Chiddam Blanc de Mars USDA-ARS (USA) #PI 191777

Chiddam Blanc de Mars IHAR (POL) #20178

Chiddam Blanc de Mars USDA-ARS (USA) #PI 58556

Chiddam Blanc de Mars CGN (NLD) #CGN05404