Plant-Breeuixg for Farmers. 133 



JVhat is meant by pcdigrcc-brccding. 



In animal-breeding, it is generally understood that pedigree-breeding 

 means the breeding from registered parents and it is generally recognized 

 that wherever breeding of this kind is carried on it is done very carefully. 

 Pedigree-breeding has come to be almost synonymous with the use of care 

 in selection. The breeder who goes to the trouble and expense of 

 registering an animal, is certain to give very careful attention to the 

 characters of the animal, and to know that it is above the average, before 

 having it registered. Xo means has yet been devised of registering 

 plants in the sense in which such a practice is carried out in animals 

 and we, therefore, have no general breeding of plants under this system, 

 except in an experimental way. Ordinarily speaking very little care is 

 used in the selection of corn, wheat, potatoes, or other seed. Indeed, it 

 may be said that it is an exception to find farmers giving careful attention 

 to the methods of seed-preservation or selection. The most common 

 practice with corn, certainly until recent years and still very generally 

 used, was simply to select the best ears from the crib each spring to use 

 as planting seed, growers thinking they could judge of the germinability 

 of the corn by the appearance of the ears. With wheat and oats, no 

 selection is practiced generally other than possible to screen the seed 

 before planting, in order to separate the largest and heaviest kernels 

 from the smallest and lightest. 



The practice of pedigree-breeding stimulates care in selection, 

 advertises the grower's stock, and has proven so successful in animal- 

 breeding that it has been adopted by breeders of all of the important 

 types of domesticated animals. The experiments of plant-breeders 

 have been carried far enough to demonstrate beyond doubt that any 

 strain or variety can be improved in yield and other qualities by careful 

 selection and pedigree-breeding. It would seem to the writer, therefore, 

 that the time has come when Xew York growers should adopt standard 

 methods of breeding for plants and provide some means of registration of 

 pedigree strains and new varieties and races. This would stimulate the 

 grower to careful work and furnish him the protection and stamp of 

 authority which is given by an official pedigree or certificate. 



Difference hctzveen plant-breeding and animal-breeding. 



For many years farmers have given special attention to animal- 

 breeding and are familiar with the methods there employed. It is thus 

 desirable that they clearly recognize such difiference as are of importance 

 between animal and plant-breeding. In animal-breeding the production 

 of new races or breeds is very rare. The ordinary breeding has as its 

 object, improvements with the race or breed, such as. increased size, 



