1916.] LAWS OF PLANT AND ANIMAL BREEDING. 53 



Mutation theory of DeVries for the Mutation theory set us to 

 looking for the exceptional individual. 



Perhaps Nilsson of Sweden is the most noted European plant 

 breeder and he says of his work at Svalof : "Rigorous selection 

 pursued for five years had produced only a relative uniformity ; 

 we could not show a single new and constant variety-character. 

 And most of it all was evident that our selected varieties, left to 

 themselves for a year or two, unquestionably fell back to the con- 

 dition of a mixture of the original varieties. 



Evidently we were unable to produce what the Swedish 

 farmers wanted ; that is better varieties which would be constant. 

 It was obvious that we must find a new method." 



Then Nilsson tells how by seeking for the exceptional in- 

 dividuals and by breeding them by themselves, new varieties and 

 good results came. This demands that we find the exceptional 

 individual and then by the ear-to row, the hill-row and by inbreed- 

 ing, we breed together those individuals that are strong in the 

 desired characteristics. 



Note. — This lecture w^as accompanied by lantern slides which 

 help to make clear many of the things such as the Mendelian 

 laws. 



