AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AT THE ST. LOUIS MEETING. 541 



W51.S olxscrved in the cross botwoen the Russian unci Indian varieties of 

 wheat known as Early Riga. 



H. J. Webber discussed the work of plant breeding- in the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. This work ])egan in 1893. The chief lines are 

 improvement of cotton, increased resistance of cereals to alkali, breed- 

 ing oats, potatoes, tobacco, corn, and wheat, and increasing plant 

 resistance to disease. Cotton with a long staple makes a better jdeld 

 and a more durable fabric, and in general black seeds are desirable. 

 Attempts are being made to secure Sea Island cotton with a larger 

 boll which will open well and render picking easy. Nearly all crosses 

 between the upland and Sea Island cotton are larger than either 

 parent, while the Egyptian variety is comparatively long in staple and 

 not too line in fiber. 



E. Davenport discussed the subject of Thremmatology, which was 

 defined as meaning evolution as encouraged by man. The causes of 

 variation and heredity were examined. A paper b}' H. De Vries on 

 Investigation of Heredity in Sporting Varieties was presented by the 

 secretary of the association. Attention was called to the desirability 

 of studying the diversified forms of sporting varieties, on account of 

 the possibility of finding accidental types exhibiting desired charac- 

 ters. These variations arise from internal and external causes not 

 wholl}' understood, but such monstrosities may assist in throwing 

 light on the causes of variation. 



C. S. Scofield described a system of score cards adapted to the use 

 of breeders. A general review was presented of the problem, and 

 attention was called to the desirability of devising score cards which 

 would allow for a detailed description of the variety of plant which 

 was being studied. These cards should not be made too comprehen- 

 sive, but are perhaps most vakiable when adapted simply to a single 

 species. 



J. D. Funk spoke on Commercial Corn Breeding. A corn breeder 

 should have only one aim, viz, increased production. The selection 

 of the most productive ears from comparative breeding tests consti- 

 tutes the essential part of the speaker\s system of breeding. The 

 breeding fields were described in detail. All defective stalks are 

 detasseled. Brief mention was made of the possible increase of oil 

 and protein content in corn. During the numerous tests made by the 

 speaker only 2 strains of corn have been developed with remarkably 

 high 3'ields. By the use of seed corn obtained from these strains the 

 average crop has been increased about 10 bu. per acre. Satisfactory 

 reports have been received from this corn wherever it has been planted 

 in the central corn belt. The speaker considered increased production 

 as innnensely more important tlian changes in chemical composition. 



C. P. Hartley discussed the subject of Corn Breeding. Attention 

 was called to the fact that all varieties of corn cross readily, and that 



