544 Readixg-Course for Farmers. 



experimenter may study and elucidate the methods of breeding and 

 demonstrate what can be accomplished ; the specialist may breed many 

 new types of value, but what is required to produce the greatest good 

 is the adoption of methods of seed selection in the farm practice pur- 

 sued by farmers generally. Instead of a few specialists and scientific 

 men working here and there, the farmers the country over, should be 

 informed on the subject of breeding, and introduce into their general 

 farm methods, systematic breeding in the production of their planting 

 seed. The evidence strongly indicates that to obtain the best yields of 

 any crop, the variety used should be adapted to the existing conditions. 

 Adjoining farms frequently differ markedly from each other in soil 

 conditions and a variety best suited to one may not be satisfactory on 

 the other. Variety testing is thus an important part of the farm work 

 and should be followed by a careful selection of the seed in order to 

 secure a high yielding strain of the variety which will be suited to the 

 local conditions (fig. i). 



For many years farmers have given careful attention to the methods 

 of seeding, cultivation, manuring, and tlie like, but have generally 

 neglected to give any careful attention to the methods of seed selection 

 or breeding. They have universally recognized the importance of stock- 

 breeding, and on all dairy and stock farms more or less careful attention 

 has been given to the matter of breeding and improvement of the strain 

 grown. To every farmer the field of breeding, whether in plants or 

 animals, furnishes an interesting and profitable diversion. Plant-breeding 

 especially, should become a farmer's fad. Few can afford to breed ani- 

 mals in the extensive way necessary to secure important results, owing 

 to the expense. No farmer, however, is so poor but that he can have 

 his breeding patch of corn, wheat or potatoes. Indeed, if they but knew 

 it, they can ill afford not to have such a breeding patch to furnish seed 

 for their own planting. 



Much regret has been expressed because our boys and girls become 

 dissatisfied with farm life and remove to the cities. This, the writer 

 believes, is largely due to lack of interest and apparent opportunity 

 on the farm. Get the boy interested in improving the field crops, and 

 the girl interested in improving the garden vegetables, the orchard 

 fruits and the flowers, and the writer believes that much of this dis- 

 satisfaction would be overcome. Have the boy develop an improved 

 race of corn, wheat, potatoes, or some useful crop, keeping records cff 

 yields in comparison with ordinary sorts. Let him exhibit the product 

 at the county and state fairs, and sell the seed of the improved strain 

 to his neighbors. It will prove a profitable investment of time and 



