214 ANNUAL, REPORT OF THE Off. Doc, 



his field and prepares the ground unusually well. He is well pleased 

 with the yield and becomes enthusiastic over the oew variety. The 

 next year perhaps the new grain does not have so good treatment and 

 consequently does not yield so well. From this time the new variety 

 of grain is given the same care and attention that he gave the less im- 

 proved varieties which he has raised for many years. When de- 

 cidedly unfavorable seasoos occur the yield of the new grain falls be- 

 low that of the more hardy and less improved varieties. 



This farmer's standard of culture, fertility, and farm management 

 is not as high as that which was required to produce the improved 

 variety, consequently retrogression sets in at once. It is not very 

 marked the first few years but with each succeeding year it becomes 

 more pronounced until the time arrives when it is no better than 

 those varieties which he formerly raised, m fact he sometimes actual- 

 ly approaches somewhat nearer complete failure than he did when 

 cultivating the hardier, less improved varieties. In order that this 

 improved variety of grain may thrive under the care and conditions 

 which he provides for it, it must be able to withstand unfavorable 

 conditions which were not required of it during the years when the 

 variety was being improved, consequently hardihood is of consider- 

 able importance and it is developed under his somewhat careless 

 management at the expense of useful qualities. Hardihood and pro- 

 tlicacy are not developed to the greatest extent in the same indi- 

 vidual at the same time. Whenever one is developed to an unusual 

 degree the other is correspondingly sacrificed. If the improved 

 variety of grain must be made to withstand severe conditions it can- 

 not maintain the highest standard of other useful qualities. In 

 other words, the improvement is in part lost through the unfavorable 

 conditions to which the variety in question is subjected. This simple 

 description of a common-place affair may be taken as an illustration 

 of the loss of many improvements which have been gained at the ex- 

 pense of life-long efforts of the foremost agriculturists. The im- 

 proved varieties are undoubtedly able to withstand unfavorable con- 

 ditions for a time, but if the conditions are more unfavorable than 

 those through which the variety passed in being improved, the im- 

 provement will not be maintained, particularly when the variety falls 

 into the hands of unskilled persons. Improved varieties are not so 

 hardy as the less improved ones. 



Man has endeavored, and has succeeded to a remarkable degree, 

 in relieving both jDlants and animals of the struggle for existence in 

 order that they might devote their energies toward producing de- 

 sirable staples of food or commerce. Both animals and plants in 

 the state of nature find the struggle for existence so great that hardi- 

 hood is one of the chief features in perpetuating the species, As 

 long as the energies of the organization are required to withstand 



