30 Department of Experimental Plant-Breeding. 



i 

 Forage-crop investigations. 



Some experiments on other forage crops than timothy are being 

 conducted on a small scale. These are as follows : 



(i) Experiments with vetch: (a) An investigation of the growing 

 of vetch for seed-production and the production of strains that will 

 give a good crop of seed, (b) An investigation of the methods of 

 breeding vetches by hybridization and selection. 



(2) Experiments with clover: Experiments are being made to test 

 variation in the hardiness and productivity of individual clover plants 

 of several species, with the view of conducting careful studies ulti- 

 mately on this subject. Some forty varieties are being cultivated in 

 small plats. 



(3) Experiments with brome-grass : some few selections are under 

 test with the following objects in view: (a) To develop a strain of 

 brome-grass especially adapted for hay and seeding purposes, (b) To 

 develop a strain of brome-grass especially adapted for pasture pur- 

 poses. 



(4) Alfalfa studies : about 30 different strains are being grown to 

 test their comparative adaptability and value as foundation stocks 

 for breeding experiments. 



Root-crop investigations. 



Some experiments in the breeding of mangels, first started by the 

 Department of Agronomy, were last year placed in charge of this 

 department. These experiments have been conducted primarily to 

 determine the methods of breeding such crops and to determine what 

 could be accomplished in the production of strains giving a high 

 yield of dry matter per acre. The relation of specific gravity to per- 

 centage of dry matter has been studied and some interesting data 

 has been secured which it is expected will soon be ready for publica- 

 tion. 



Studies of variation. 



This line of scientific investigation is being given more attention 

 than any other subject, as it lies at the foundation of all breeding 

 work. It is desirable that we thoroughly understand all types of 

 variation, their cause and use in breeding, and determine whether 

 the breeder can by any means cause or force variations to occur. 

 The investigations under way may be classified primarily under the 

 following heads : 



(i) Statistical studies to determine the range of variation and place 

 effects in wild and cultivated plants growing under different condi- 

 tion of natural environment. 



