The liui.MrriN. 



77 



to tlie North Carolina Agriculturiil Experiment Station, West Kaleigii, N. C, 

 -.1 ilic North Carolina Department of A-j;ri('ulture, Raleigh, N. C, for any addj- 

 lioiial information needed concerning any of these subjects. 



Fia. 70 — Grape black rot. 



SEED SELECTION. 



J. L. BURGESS. 



lu December, 1909, Dr. C. G. Hopkins, of Illinois, addressed the following 

 letter to the Ministers of Agriculture and several other leading agricultural in- 

 vestigators in a number of European countries: 



"Sir: — Statistical records clearly indicate that in your country there has been 

 a large increase in the average yield per acre of wheat and other cereal crops 

 during the last 80 or 100 years — an increase amounting as a rule to about 100 

 per cent. 



"We shall esteem it a very great favor if you will be so kind as to inform 

 me about what relative proportion of this increase you would attribute to each 

 of the following factors: 



( 1 ) "To the use of improved seed. 



(2) "To the use of plant food in commercial fertilizers and stable and green 

 manures. 



(3) "To better rotation of crops. 



(4) "To more thorough tillage. 



"Without doubt you have sufficient information concerning the changes that 

 have occurred in your agricultural practice during the last century to enable 

 you to designate somewhat closely the relative importance of these several factors 

 in effecting the increase over the former yields, and your opinion in this regard 

 will be highly appreciated by us. 



"With deep respect I am, 



"Very truly yours, 



[Signed) Cyril G. Hopkins." 



