1905.] DISCUSSION. 191 



seems very probable that such improvements can be secured. 

 In other words, by crossing the native varieties with the vahi- 

 able imported tobacco types can be secured combining the yield 

 and hardiness of the native with the improved quality of the 

 imported varieties. The hybrids were much more vigorous 

 and productive than either the native or imported parent va- 

 rieties, and gave every indication of increased yield and im- 

 proved quality. 



The President. We will proceed to the discussion of this 

 question immediately after the song which we are now to have. 



Song. 



The President. We will proceed now to the discussion of 

 this question. These gentlemen have given us these excellent 

 papers, and I presume are now ready to answer any questions 

 which you put to them. 



To start the ball rolling, I would like to ask Mr. Shame! 

 in regard to the matter of experiments with corn on these differ- 

 ent varieties. What was the result of a cross in these leading 

 varieties as you found it out? 



Mr. Shamel. In regard to that I will say that our best 

 results have come, not from crossing leading varieties of corn, 

 but from strengthening new varieties. Corn itself is naturally 

 a cross-fertilized plant — wind-fertilized. The wind carries 

 the pollen from one plant and deposits it upon the silk or ear 

 of another. So in any case we get naturally cross fertiliza- 

 tion, which gives, in the plants produced from these seed, 

 much proof of striking variations and differences in the crop. 

 In fact we have obtained too much variation. We have got 

 big ears and small ears, poor ears and good ears. We have, 

 in other words, a sufficient quantity of variation to make a 

 selection from as the matter now stands, so that by crossing two 

 individual varieties it simply intensifies and increases this 

 variation to an undesirable extent ; but with the selection of 

 choice varieties in corn, and the planting of seed from these 

 in individual rows in the breeding plot, and then saving the 



