54 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 



Of mangels, twenty-three varieties were tested. The highest yielding varieties 

 were four of the Yellow Globe type, which averaged 42 tons, 1,303 pounds per acre. 

 The other nineteen varieties yielded a much smaller crop, their average being 2G tons, 

 5 per acre. 



Of earr> its, six varieties were grown, their average yield being 18 tons, 545 pounds 

 per acre. 



Of sugar beets, three varieties were tested, the average yield being 15 tons, 1,978 

 pounds to the acre. 



INDIAN CORN. 



Of Indian corn, twelve varieties were tested, yielding an average of 16 tons, 1,700 

 pounds to the acre. The very wet weather during the first part of June, and the 

 unfavourable conditions during practically the entire season had, on the wl quite 



a disturbing effect on the results of the experiments. 



CLOVER, ALFALFA AND GRASSF.S. 



The year's work with leguminous forage plants and grasses consisted chiefly, 

 save for comparative testing of the yield of those 'varieties' which were alrea 

 growing in the experimental field, in starting the breeding of new varieties and strai 

 from old, long-tried species. 



As is well known, the production of new varieties and strains can be accom- 

 plished by following three main courses, viz.: — 



1. Line Breeding, i.e., breeding from individual parent plants by means 

 of self-fertilization. 



2. Mass-Self Hon , by which production of new so-called vai is effected 

 ' by raising parent plants, selected en masse. 



8. Hybridization, by which new strains are produced by combining desir- 

 able characters of two parent plants into one individual. 



Whether Line Breeding, Mass-Selection or Hybridization should be used for the 

 production of new varieties and strains depends largely upe.) two factors, viz.: (1) 

 the way in which the plants worked with can be fertilized, and (2) what kinds of 

 character the breeder wants to develop. 



The influence of the ways of fertilization on the breeding methods to be employed 

 can lie demonstrated by the following two examples: — 



1. A Timothy plant growing among other individuals of its kin is apt to be cross- 

 fertilized, and there is no doubt that the bulk of the timothy seed produced in the 

 field is the result of cross-fertilization. A timothy plant isolated in such a way that 

 pollen from other individuals has no chance whatever to reach its pistils, can he 

 fertilized by its own pollen and produce seed of good quality. 



2. A Red Clover plant is always fertilized by insects carrying pollen from one 

 flower to another. If a red clover plant is isolated so that it cannot be visited by 

 insects, it will not produce - a single seed. What is of more importance in this con- 



i 'ion is, however, the fact that red clover is perfectly self-sterile, i.e., a flower of 

 a certain individual cannot be fertilized by pollen developed by that individual, 

 ery red clover seed produced is therefore the result of a cross-fertilization between 

 two individual plants. 



This clearly undcrs ood, it is evident that Line Breeding of red clover is entirely 

 out of question. The method to be employed must he mass-selection or hybridization. 



Whether Mass-Selec ion or Line Breeding should he used as a basis for breeding 

 work depends also upon what results are looked for. 



When the aim is to secure uniform strains distinguished by certain constant 

 morphological characters, Line Breeding is practically the only safe method to use. 



