436 FAKMERS' INSTITUTES. 



crossing artificially, but having selected the two varieties he wished to com- 

 bine he sowed them together, and then selected those heads which exhibited 

 the combined character of both parents. These selected varieties were 

 propagated separately. They showed great improvement over the parents 

 in both yield and quality. In the years 1795 and 1796, when nearly the 

 whole crop in England was destroyed by blight, these crossed varieties, 

 wherever sown, escaped and produced large crops. In 1846 Mr. Maund 

 exhibited before the English Agricultural Society some wheat, the result of 

 a cross he had made. He performed the crossing with his own hands, 

 taking the necessary precautions against foreign pollen, so that he knew 

 positively the parentage of his sample. He also exhibited samples of both 

 parents so that comparisons could be made. His crossed variety was an 

 advance over the varieties then in use in that it gave increased yield, and 

 the quality was of the best. 



In 1852 Mr. Eaynbird placed on the market an even sample of a crossed 

 wheat, which proved another great acquisition. He obtained it in this way. 

 In 1846 he grew a small quantity of "Piper's Thickset," a very prolific 

 variety, but having a short head and short straw, and being subject to 

 blight. He supplied flowers of this variety with pollen from the " Hope- 

 town," a very fine white wheat having long straw. The product of the 

 cross he sowed and selected from until the qualities that appeared most 

 desirable became fixed. 



In our own country we have the work of Prof. Blount, of the Agricultu- 

 ral College of Colorado, who has for ten years given special attention to the 

 production of new varieties by selection and crossing. He writes me that 

 he now has 369 varieties of wheat, 52 of oats, 31 of barley, 20 of rye and 150 

 of corn, the seed of which he has procured from all over the world. 



In growing these varieties he selects each year the best heads from the 

 first ripe plants. He says, " I have made a specialty of crossing and select- 

 ing wheat to make better varieties for both farmers and millers." 



In crossing he selects plants having stiff straw and compact heads for the 

 mother plants, and takes pollen from varieties that are not too widely dif- 

 ferent from the mother plants, always choosing carefully with regard to the 

 particular characters he would have represented in his ideal variety. 



To quote again : "I have made over 40 crosses, 10 of which are very much 

 finer in every way than either parent. Some of them are absolutely rust 

 proof ; obtaining new varieties by crossing and selection had added much to 

 our reputation as a wheat growing State. At New Orleans our grain took 

 first premium, and sweepstakes over everybody. Our wheat now stands 

 first in the world for milling properties." The improved varieties originated 

 by Prof. Blount are now grown all over his State, and in States adjoining, 

 and the benefits accruing to the farmers through their use have been very 

 great. 



CROSSING INDIAN CORN. 



I have referred thus far only to the selection and crossing of wheat. 

 Our Indian corn is capable of improvement in the same manner. There is 

 the same certainty of a large return from a small amount of labor devoted 

 to selecting and saving the seed. Very many farmers who are particular 

 about the date of planting, and who will let nothing interfere with the cul- 



