120 IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF WHEAT. 



The content of protcid nitrogen, the kernel weight, and the total 

 proteid nitrogen production b}-^ the wheat plant are hereditary quali- 

 ties. 



There is a tendency for ])lants possessing any of these qualities in 

 an extreme degree to produce progeny in which the same qualities 

 ap})roach more closely to the average, but certain exceptional plants 

 may transmit the same or more extreme qualities. 



The yield of grain per plant after a sevei^e winter was decreased in 

 proportion to the suscepti])ility of the plant to cold. The effect of 

 the cold caused the plant to produce a less number of heads, or, in 

 other words, to tiller less. 



The early-maturing plants yielded the most grain, and those ripen- 

 ing later produced in each case less when grouped into ripening 

 periods of four days, extending through more than three weeks' time. 



The early-maturing plants produced grain of slightly lower nitro- 

 gen content than the later maturing plants, and the number of grams 

 of proteid nitrogen in the average kernel was likewise less in tiie 

 early-maturing plants. 



Plants with heads of slightly more than medium size produced 

 the largest yields of grain, and were taller than plants wi.h either 

 larger or smaller heads. Plants with heads of medium size, or slightly 

 less, tillered most extensivel}^ 



The weight of the average kernel did not increase with the size of 

 the head, nor did it decrease, except on the very largest heads. 



The largest yielding plants were the tallest and tillered most. 



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