Batchelor: Problems in Walnut Breeding 65 
flavor free from any astringency. The 
shells vary from extremely rough and 
unattractive specimens to smooth com- 
mercial types, as the Placentia, while the 
color of the meats varies from dark 
brown to nearly white, and so on through 
the other characteristics mentioned. 
In the selection of varieties, the 
walnut breeder is exceptionally favored 
by the occurrence of large areas of 
seedling trees. According to the 1910 
census, there were in the neighborhood 
of one and a quarter million seedling 
trees growing in California. With this 
almost unlimited material for selective 
use, it seems indeed reasonabie that 
many varieties will be selected in the 
future, which are better adapted to the 
demands of the industry than some of 
the walnuts now being propagated. By 
means of hybridizing methods, it is 
also hoped that some of the desirable 
unit characters of the sorts now in 
cultivation may be re-combined into 
more nearly ideal varieties for future 
generations. 
Very little is known at present con- 
cerning the correlation of certain desir- 
able or undesirable characters of the 
walnut. Work is under way at present 
by the Citrus Experiment Station in an 
endeavor to ascertain these relationships. 
The fact that walnut breeding is 
necessarily a long-termed, expensive 
problem has made it rather unattractive 
to the practical breeders. Such work 
will depend largely upon public institu- 
tions for its support. 
Plant Breeding at Cornell University 
The plant breeding work at the Cornell University (New York) Experiment 
Station has given results of both economic and fundamental importance. Among 
the former are to be noted the production of high-yielding strains of cereals, pota- 
toes, timothies, and so forth. For example, improved strains of oats have been 
found to yield from 9 to 14 bushels per acre more than the variety from which 
they were isolated. Two strains of dent corn mature about two weeks earlier 
than the variety from which they were produced and at the same time outyield 
somewhat the original variety. The superiority of some of the selected strains 
of timothy over ordinary timothy has been demonstrated. Hill selection of pota- 
toes has been shown to be an effective method of producing high-yielding strains. 
Of the more important fundamental results obtained from the Cornell Station’s 
breeding work may be mentioned the following: Bud variation has been found to 
occur with no inconsiderable frequency in potatoes and has been demonstrated 
in clonally-propagated timothies. Results of importance not yet formulated for 
publication have been obtained through studies of seasonal and place variation in 
daisies, through selection within pure lines of cereals, through hybridization of 
oat and wheat varieties, and the like. Extensive studies in color inheritance in 
phlox, morning-glory, beans, corn, and so forth, are being prosecuted, the latter 
having been recently transferred from the Nebraska Station. Statistical studies 
of variation also constitute an important part of the plant breeding work at Cornell. 
Altering the Galloway Breed of Cattle 
At the Alaska experiment stations, Special Agent C. C. Georgeson writes: 
“We have made a beginning in the development of an all-purpose cow from the 
Galloway. Something more is needed in Alaska than the beef qualities, which are 
so characteristic cf the Galloway. The Alaska settler wants a cow that will give 
milk, as well as produce beef and at the same time be hardy enough to withstand 
the climate. We expect to reach results by proper mating and selection. It is not 
contemplated at the present time to go outside of the breed to secure milking qual- 
ities, though, undoubtedly, results could be reached more quickly by crossing with 
some other breed, thereby sacrificing the purity of the stock. The Brown Swiss 
might make a good cross with the Galloway.” 
