i50 Missouri Agiicuttur at Report. 



planted from closely related ears we have^ conditions for more or 



- less close-breeding. 



A comparison of figures 18 and 19 demonstrates this detri- 

 mental effect of in-breeding. The plot shown in figure 18 is planted 



* frorii seed which has been continuously inbred for five genera- 

 tions, while that shown in figure 19 is planted from seed of the 

 same origin, but which has been continuously cross-bred during 

 this same time. These two plots are otherwise under the same 



■ conditions, planted the same day on similar soil, cared for alike and 

 photographed the same-day^ 



. ■ CONCLUSION. 



I have tried to present in outline a few of the experiments 

 which illustrate the principles involved in the breeding of corn, 

 and with the hope that they may suggest something of the possi- 

 bilities for the improvement of this all-important crop by the 

 method of Continuous selection for definite purposes. 



SIMPLE METHODS OF SEED IMPROVEMENT. 



(By H. J. Webber, Professor of Experimental Plant- Breeding, Cornell University.) 



The speaker's reason for selecting this subject for discussion 

 is based on the observations, he has made in various parts of the 

 country. He finds that while great advance has been made in de- 

 vising improved methods for the breeding of our important crops 

 the great mass of the people remain as yet indifferent to the im- 

 portance of the subject. The conclusion to be drawn from this 

 indifference must primarily be due, he thinks, to the fact that the 

 methods usually advocated are so complex that farmers generally 

 consider them to be impractical for ordinary use. Indeed, this 

 we can but admit is true in the case of general farmers. It seems 

 to the speaker that what is most desired at the present time is the 

 general use by all farmers of some systematic improved method 

 of seed selection which will be only slightly more complex than the 

 methods they now use. It is with this in view that the following 

 simple methods of selecting seed for potatoes and corn are pro- 

 posed. 



- SELECTION OF SEED POTATOES. 



So far as the speaker's experience goes few farmers are giving 

 attention to the selection of their seed in the case of potatoes, and 



