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important than fertility of the soil as factors in permanent grain 
growing. The matter of soil exhaustion is so well known that it is 
the staple argument with the majority of popular writers and 
speakers on agriculture; but, so far as I have personally seen or have 
been able to learn from the observations or the experience of others, 
in every locality in this country where wheat growing has suddenly 
risen to large figures the quality and the yield have diminished more 
rapidly from carelessness in the selection of the seed and in the care 
of the crop than from mere soil exhaustion. 
While there is no absolute proof that any variety of cereal has ever 
originated ina “ sport,” nevertheless the indications are that some have 
so originated. The new variety of Bamia cotton originated in a 
single plant, entirely unlike its fellows, found in a cotton field in the 
Nile Valley in 1873, and the variety has already nearly revolutionized 
cotton culture in Egypt. (McCoan, Egypt as it Is, p. 187, and Kew 
Rept. for 1877, p. 26, fig. 7.) Cotton is propagated from the seed 
as the cereals are, but shee plant being a more conspicuous one, a sport 
would be more lable to be noticed. ~ A single cereal plant, unlike its 
fellows, in a great field of grain would be g ‘gathered unnoticed unless 
some very unusual accident “secured its preservation. 
It is well known, however, that many varieties of grain have origi- 
nated in some single plant differing from its fellows found growing 
in some exceptional place, but how that plant acquired its special 
characters, whether suddenly, as sports do, or not, we have no knowl- 
edge. We simply and only know that here and there some single 
plant has been found that represents to us a new variety ready made, 
and varieties have been perpetuated from such plants which have 
grown true to the seed and which have been valuable and enduring. 
The variety of oats known as “ potato oats ” is said to have originated 
in a single plant found growing in a potato patch (hence the - name ) 
in Cumberland, England, in 1778 (Allen, New America Farm Book, 
p. 163), or, as some say, in 1789 (Stephen’s Farmers’ Guide, I, 449). 
This variety, after nearly a hundred years’ existence, is still one of 
the best and brings, it is said, the highest price in the English markets. 
Its excellence has been proved throughout Europe and entir ely across 
the continent of America, for it is in common cultivation from Maine 
to Oregon and Washington. 
The Clawson wheat originated i in a single plant found growing by 
a stump in the State of New York. Darwin says that the Fenton 
wheat was found growing on a pile of detritus in a quarry in Eng- 
land. The Chidham wheat originated from an ear found growing 
in a hedge in the same country, and numerous other examples are 
recorded in the agricultural literature of this century. It is only 
fair to say, however, that many varieties of such origin have been 
rejected on trial as of no value, just as numerous varieties of seedling 
apples and potatoes are rejected. It is only the few that are actual 
improvements on what we had before. In ornamental and other 
garden plants the tendency to “sport” is much increased by cross- 
ing varieties, and this is probably also true of all classes of cultivated 
plants. 
Using seed which has been grown in some other locality, or, as 
farmers say, “a change of seed,” has been practiced by grain growers 
in all ages; and that this is very often attended with an increase of 
. 
