('.8 



(juitc I'rrc From rust, \vhil<*- thc.othors aro (;()nsi(l(M"iil)lv rust(Hl, nud tlio 

 lociility should 1i!1|)))(mi to l)(^ one in whicli rust is usually vory hud, 

 such heads should hy all means he sclecti'd, sown separately, and from 

 th(^ ))roj^-eny the most resistant individuals a<4ain selected. It imist of 

 (U)urse he noted thai </// .sdectlov-s for' sred xJiovld he inade in the field. 

 Kven sele<;ti()iis lor oi'eat(U' yield or for size oi- (juality of grain can 

 not he pi'operly mad(^ fi-om the harvested gi-ain. It is fortunate that 

 often two or more (pialities may he improved hy scdecting the same 

 individuals. Voy example, individuids that arc^ very winter hardy arc 

 also lik(>-ly to he I'ust i-esistaid. in miiiiy instances. Great yieldi no- 

 power and nonshattei'ino- ni:iy idso occui' in the same individual, while 

 gluten content iind drought resistance may (^xist together in ceitain 

 othei's. 



Ill Mil ai'ticie \)\ the writer on " Impi"o\cmeiits in wheat culture" ' a 

 simple metluxl is suggest(Ml which, if practiced, would enable any 

 farmer to constantly and cIlectiNcly im])ro\-e th(^ yield and (piality of 

 grain with little lioiihle. hut with grejit profit in the <^w\. As this 

 iiK^thod niiiy he employed e(|ually well tor the improvement of any 

 othei- (piality of the plant, tiid'e is jjiohahly no mor(^ fitting way of 

 closing the discussion of this topi<- than to I'cproduce here the desci'ip- 

 tion ot" that method with such modilications as are necessary to make- 

 it api)licahle for any improv«>ni(Mit desired. It is as follows: 



Hegin pr:icli<'ing the constant us(> of a wheat-hreeding ])lat of 1 acre 

 or more from which to select sccmI each year. Locate this plat at ditter- 

 i'nt paits of the farm every two or three years, preferably in alterna- 

 tion with cloN'ei' or other leguminous ci'ops, and gix'e it the best of care, 

 flust hefore liar\'est go through a tield of a good, hardy, standai'd variety 

 that has gi\'en the best results in the locality, and mark ])lants that 

 exhihit to the higlu\st degree the special (luality which it is desired 

 to incn^ase, su<h as freedom from rust, fertility of head, or ()therwis(>, 

 and which are at. the same time at least as good as the ax'cragii in other 

 respects. At harvest tim<> cut with a sickle enough of these marked 

 j)lants for sowing the plat and, after thrashing them, select the largest 

 and most \igorous seed foi' this pur])os(\ by means of a scr(MMi or even 

 hy hand picking. Sow the plat early, drilling it at theavei'age rate of 

 ai)out \.\ bushels ]M>r acre. Next s(»ason use none of the Held crop for 

 seed, but select in the same mannei' enough of the l)(>st plants from 

 this brecMling ])lat for r«>seeding the plat and use all the remainder for 

 sowing the general cioj). In the following season and eai'h succeeding 

 season practice exactly the same method. In this way seed is never 

 taken from the g<MU'ral crop, which can not he given the same care as 

 the smtdl plat, and there is a constant selection of set'd which is more 

 and more rigid e\'t'ry year. Moreover, tlu>re is no extra lahoi" involved 

 exc(^pt the small amount iHMpured for seed selection each year. Of 

 cours(> the hreediiig plat should he k(>pt constantly free from rye or 

 other foreign heads and weeds. 



' YciirlxKiU I'nittMl Stiilcs i)cii;iil mciit <>l' Au'ricultiirc, ISiXl, ])a^es 489-498; also 

 ivpiiiito'i. 



