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lately put together the results. We found for a number of years In suceessi ;;i 

 a steady increase in the amount of nitrogen in the average of the whole until 

 we came to the year 1903, when there was a sudden drop to a point below the 

 lowest of the previous years' record. If we had been making experiments to 

 increase the nitrogen in our wheats we would have felt for a half dozen yeais 

 that we were securing important results, all to be thrown to the wind in lh:'.t 

 one year. 



C. G. Hopkins, of Illinois. 1 want to call attention to the fnct that I'rofessor 

 I.yon is breeding in two directions, and in that he is independent of .seas.;nal 

 influence. In other words, he is breeding for both high and low protein ; to 

 that in a year that produces high-protein wheat both levels are raised, but the 

 difference keeps increasing. We have had the same experience with corn. In 

 our high-protein cornfield, for example, we do not find that the increase is 

 constant; It may rise for three years and then fall and then rise again. Similar 

 fluctuations are also observed with the low-protein corn, but the difference 

 between the two is more constant. 



It is of importance in breeding for high protein to maintain a supply of 

 Jiitrogen in the soil. The supply of nitrogen is just as important in breeding 

 Avheat or corn as in breeding animals. The question frecjuontly arises whether 

 growing high-protein corn or wheat does not more rapidly reduce the fertility 

 of the soil. Nitrogen is a peculiar element; it is made available for food as it 

 passes into nitrate form. AVith this process of nitrification the corn plant or 

 wheat plant has nothing to do. Once in the form of nitrates, so far as we know, 

 the nitrogen is either taken up by crops or it is lost ; and the point brought out 

 by Professor Lyon that in the wet seasons the nitrogen content was low may be 

 iittributed to the fact that his nitrogen passed off in drainage waters, and was 

 lost to the crop. It would f^eem, therefore, that the growing of high-protein 

 wheat or high-protein corn is more likely to result in a saving of nitrogen than 

 in any extra draft upon the nitrogen content of the soil. If it is not taken up 

 by the crops it is almost sure to pass off before the next croj> is grown. 



In I'eply to a question as to the i)ossibility of judging of the quality of wheat 

 by means of a physical examint.tion. Professor Lyon said: "I suppose that the 

 quality of the wheat is indicated to a considerable extent, at least, by the 

 <nppearance of the kernel — that is, by its hardness and by the color." Professor 

 Snyder brought out in one of his recent bulletins the difference between the 

 appearance of glutenous wheat and starchy wheat, as shown by the cross- 

 section of a kernel, and I have no doubt that that could be usod to a considerable 

 extent as a guide to the quality of wheat in planting. 



W. M. Hays,, of Minnesota. I am very much struck with the wide variation 

 reported. It is much more than I would expect with the method followed, but 

 dealing with the product of a single mother plant for several generations I 

 would expect to get very much greater variation. 



M. A. ScovELL, of Kentucky. I am afraid that in the next fifty years 

 fcicientists will not accept our analyses for proteid compounds any more readily 

 than we accept the analyses of fifty years ago. If we could find out the relation 

 between nitrogen and gluten content, baking qualities, etc., of wheat, the total 

 nitrogen would be the most satisfactory basis of judgment, because it is so 

 easily and accurately determined. 



W. Saunders, of Canada. What surprises me very much in this pai)er is the 

 fact that the composition of the grain from different sides of the same head 

 varies so widely. It shows how very careful we have to be in drawing any 

 conclusions with reference to this subject. Certainly this paper throws a light 

 on the subject that we have never had before. 



The motion to appoint a committee on this subject was carried. 



