1917] EDITORIAI,. 307 



The results are to a considerable extent in the theoretical stage as yet, 

 but will ultimately modify in important ways the practical directions 

 for feeding. 



The theory of plant and animal breeding will be recognized as 

 another conspicuous feature of the station investigation. In this 

 line knowledge of the theory and practice of plant breeding has been 

 very largely increased by the extensive studies made with various 

 classes of plants and animals, and from different points of view. 

 The investigation has largely changed from the earlier attempts to 

 secure something better, to the search for a more thorough under- 

 standing of principles on which the theory and practice may be 

 further perfected and developed. Incidentally many improved 

 strains of plants and animals have been secured, either giving larger 

 production, greater immunity, or otherwise possessing important 

 economic qualities. 



The extensive study of inheTitance in egg production illustrates a 

 type of work with animals, which has widespread practical value. 

 The experiments in the transmission of characters in mule breeding 

 are unique, and have given an intelligent basis for such operations. 

 In hybridization work with plants a number of hardy plums and 

 other improved fruits have been developed, and valuable qualities of 

 cereals, corn, and cotton have been fixed and perpetuated by line 

 selection. In combating plant diseases the knowledge of breeding 

 has been turned to excellent account, as for example in producing 

 strains of clover immune to anthracnose, cabbage immune to wilt or 

 yellows, and varieties of cereals resistant to diseases. 



Many seed-borne diseases have been brought under control by 

 discovery of their weak points. It has been found, for example, 

 that cotton anthracnose can be prevented by delinting the seed with 

 sulphuric acid or treatment with hot water, which destroys the 

 organism, and that bean anthracnose can be prevented in the South 

 by growing the bean crop for seed during the simimer, when the 

 fungus can not withstand the hot weather. Studies of the apple 

 rust have shown that it may be controlled by destruction of cedar 

 trees which serve as the alternate host of the fungus, and this find- 

 ing has resulted in favorable legislation. The extensive studies of 

 the rusts are furnishing a broad basis for economic studies in rela- 

 tion to this class of diseases. 



Dairying has to its credit a considerable list of projects which 

 have resulted in important advancements. For example, the studies 

 in cheese ripening and on the role of acid in cheese making have led 

 to a new method of cheese manufacturing in which pasteurized milk 

 is employed, using artificial ripeners. This has reduced cheese mak- 

 ing more largely to a mechanical process, easily controlled, requiring 

 81075°— No. 4—17 2 



