212 STATE BOARD OF AGEICULTUEE. 



Tlie Importance of Good Breeding 



is no longer a question of doubt. I can remember when much was said to the 

 contrary. The pig, for example, Avas called the animal, and the corn was called 

 the breed, implying that the feed was everything, the selection of the animal 

 was of no consequence. Every thinking man now kuows that tliere is much 

 more profit in feeding certain kinds of quiet hogs than there is in feeding a 

 restless, long-legged pointer. There is no question but that the grade short- 

 horns are more profitable than scrub cattle on the prairies of Illinois. Much 

 skill is required to breed animals successfully to produce the best results. 



From all that I can learn of others, and from my own experiments, I am 

 fully convinced there is as much chance to use skill in cross-breeding plants. 

 This crossing of plants by human agency is yet in its infancy, but I anticipate 

 in the future great improvements in this direction in our wheat, oats, corn, 

 garden vegetables, in our orchard and garden fruits and in our ornamental 

 plants. 



In breeding animals much attention is given to the care and feeding, so in 

 plants care should be given to soil and cultivation and the improvement by 

 selecting good perfect seeds. 



Within certain limits, a person can breed and select or create almost any 

 kind of fruit, flower or grain he may choose. The pear has been improved 

 from a tough, leathery, worthless fruit. Cabbages and cauliflowers have sprung 

 ironi a wild, worthless weed growing on the coasts of Great Britain. Large 

 a-oots have been develojied on beets and turnips, varying in size, shape, color, 

 and mode of growth. See what England has done for the Khododendron and 

 for geraniums ; France for roses, and Belgium and Holland for tulips and 

 hyacinths. 



Careful selection of seed, as practiced by many of our best farmers, is well 

 worthy of all the attention it receives, and good culture also, but I hope soon 

 to show you that these precautions are by no means all that can be done to im- 

 prove varieties. This slow process of selection can be much hastened and made 

 more certain and definite by cross-breeding. Every man should engage more 

 or less in this improvement of his grains, and vegetables, and flowers. Chil- 

 dren should learn, thus an additional charm would be given to rural pursuits. 



Every now and then are found new chance seedlings which are valuable. 

 These may be, and no doubt are, often due to crossing of two varieties by means 

 of insects. 



Here are some ears of pop corn which grew in the vicinity of some sweet corn. 

 A few grains of pollen here and there changed the color, size and texture of 

 .some of these kernels. The male element has produced a remarkable effect the 

 first year. With all kinds of plants the effect is not so apparent on the first year, 

 but the quality of the pollen in all cases should be looked after to secure the 

 improvement of varieties. 



What do we think of a man who selects the best calves, pigs, and lambs from 

 the best mothers, paying no attention whatever to the selection of a good male 

 parent. This is what our very best farmers are now doing all the time with 

 their seeds and plants. They select from a field the largest and fairest ears of 

 corn and the plumpest wheat. 



In our corn fields are often large numbers of slender stalks, bearing no ears, 



or very small ears. These stalks have tassels, and they scatter pollen and 



.are very apt to scatter some on the ears of the best stalks, — on the very ears 



