lo July, 1911-] Seeds and Seeding. 475 



will do. This is, of course, not so. The right variety will often make all 

 the difference between success and failure. With turnips, for instance, 

 some varieties have narrow leaves, while others have large broad leaves. 

 The latter, if planted closely, draw a lot in dull w'et weather ; while the 

 former thrive under such conditions, but do not succeed when the sun heat 

 is strong. 



It is to be regretted that few emoluments aw^ait the creator of new 

 types of plants. An improved variety may mean an increase of thousands 

 of pounds in trade. Observe the effect of the Wealthy apple and Bartlett 

 pear in America and Federation wheat in Australia. Not only does a 

 good new variety produce more than the old ; but, being a more desirable 

 article, it will quickly capture the markets from the less attractive kinds. 

 Thus prolificacy and commercial value are increased. The influence of 

 one patient breeder on the improvement, or popularizing, of certain 'species 

 of plants is extraordinary. In this respect we may cite Burbank with 

 plums and Farrer with wheats. These men have demonstrated the poten- 

 tialities in common forms of plant life, and have shown how infinitelv 

 variable are the inherent qualities possessed by such. There 's probably 

 no more fascinating subject of investigation than that of the variation of 

 plants, and no more utilitarian way of enriching one's country and mankind, 

 than bv the improvement of old, and the creation of new, varieties of agri- 

 cultural plants. 



Gathering and Storing. 



As a rule, seed should be gathered wEen fully ripe. Owing, however, 

 to the peculiarities of some plants in ripening their seed suddenly and 

 castii.g it some distance from the parent plant by a violent rupture of the 

 seed coat, or by the aid of a special appendage, it is advisable to gather 

 the seed when fully developed but before complete hardening. This is 

 particularly so in the case of many small seeds that are difficult to gather. 

 It is often a good plan to lift carefully the whole plant when a good 

 quantity of the seed is fully developed but not hard and dry, and allow 

 it to complete the ripening process on the plant. 



In collecting seeds, trueness and improvement in the type should always 

 be the chief objectives. When a good variety is obtained, constant selection 

 should be ob.served in future years to maintain its characteristics. Al 

 though it is generally accepted that ther^ is a dominant tendency for " like 

 to beget like," yet absolute stability is not found in the improved forms 

 of plant life. Once the chief factors (cultivation and selection) that are 

 responsible for the improvement and maintenance of the type are withdrawn 

 an inherent tendencv to " run out," or revert, is ever ready to assert itself. 

 This tendency is usually most apparent in those plants that vary easily or 

 are the furthest removed from original types by breeding. According to 

 L. L. Vilmorin : — 



1. The tendency to resemble its jiiirenls is ;jenerally the strongest tenriency 



in any plant. 



2. Ihit it is notably impaired as it comes into conllict with the tendency tc 



resemble the gePTal line of its ancestry. 



3. This latter tendency, or atavism, is constant, though not strong, and 



scarcely becomes impaired by the intervention of a series of generations 

 in which no reversion takes place. 



Thus, for instance, a good variety of cabb.igo may, whtre proper culti- 

 vation and .selection are observed, be grown for years without deterioration, 

 but if neglected for one or two seasons a sudden reversion takes place. 



As a rule, in gathering seeds the general character of the plant should 

 be considererj of more importance tlian the particular attrilmtes of the part 



